THE IOWA JOURNAL 
of History and Politics 

JULY Nineteen Hundred Six 
Volume Four . . Number Three 





Route of Robert Lucas 
Route of Hull's Army 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 

ii 

INTRODUCTION 



The War of 1812, beneficial as it was in its results to the 
United States, does not present, when studied in detail, a 
consistent progress toward victory. It was begun with 
seemingly no thought for preparation and concluded with 
apparently little heed to the causes which brought it about. 
It was not well managed by the administration at Wash- 
ington, and among the generals in the field there was much 
blundering incompetence. Individual bravery and patriot- 
ism brought glory in the naval warfare; but on the land, 
with a few exceptions, the campaigns were distinctly unfor- 
tunate. Particularly discouraging was the opening campaign 
under the command of General AVilliam Hull, Governor of 
the Territory of Michigan. 

The purpose of the Hull campaign was to march to De- 
troit and from that place cross the river and commence a 
conquest of Canada. General Hull with an army consisting 
largely of Ohio volunteers made his way, in May and June, 
through the swamps and wilderness of Ohio and camped a 
few miles below the town of Detroit. On July 12, urged 
by his impatient officers, he crossed the river and began his 
concpiest by issuing a proclamation to the inhabitants of 
Canada. The following weeks, however, brought little but 
inaction and vacillation, and early in August he withdrew 
his force under cover of the night across the river to Ainer- 



344 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

ican soil. On Sunday morning, the sixteenth of August, 
1812, without having engaged the enemy in a single con- 
certed action, he surrendered Detroit to the British. 

Although the officials at Washington were very culpable 
in the management of the movements in the AVest, the 
Administration succeeded in extricating itself from the 
blame, and General Hull received the outpouring of wrath 
from the entire country for the failure of the campaign. 
His disappointed army was particularly bitter and even 
accused him of a treacherous betrayal. A court-martial 
tried his case, convicted him of cowardice, and sentenced 
him to be shot. President Madison, however, spared his 
life. General Hull spent the remainder of his years in re- 
tirement, and died, an old man, still insisting upon the Tight- 
ness of his course and vainly attempting to justify himself 
before the nation. 

During the disastrous Hull campaign Robert Lucas, of 
Scioto County, Ohio (afterwards Governor of the State of 
Ohio and still later the organic Governor of the Territory 
of Iowa), was in constant service and in a position which 
brought him in contact with every phase of the campaign. 
He kej>t a daily journal of the events, which is distinctly 
valuable in that it gives a contemporaneous view of the cam- 
paign from the standpoint of an actual participant. For over 
ninety years this interesting Journal, which is here published 
for the first time, has been carefully preserved by the de- 
scendants of Robert Lucas. It is recorded in a note book of 
about eight by four and one-half inches in dimensions, open- 
ing at the end, with board covers and leather back and 
corners. The covers are broken and the pages are yellow 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 345 

with age; but despite its almost one hundred years, the 
writing is as legible as ever and tells a story of exceeding 
interest to the student of American history. 

Robert Lucas, the author of the Journal, had come to 
Ohio near the beginning of the nineteenth century and set- 
tled in what is now Scioto County. 

In 1804 he was commissioned Lieutenant in a company of 
volunteers recruited in apprehension of the refusal of Spain 
to peacefully surrender possession of the Louisiana Territo- 
ry, then recently purchased of Napoleon by the United 
States. Again in 1807 he was chosen Captain of a volun- 
teer company which tendered its services to President 
Jefferson during the excitement following the attack upon 
the Chesapeake by the British ship Leopard. Actual 
service was, however, not required of either of these com- 
panies. 

In the Ohio Militia Lucas had risen by successive proino- 
tions until at the opening of the War of 1812 he was Briga- 
dier General of the 2d Brigade of the 2d Division. He had 
been for some time desirous of becoming a regular army 
officer; and being finally tendered an appointment he ac- 
cepted in April of 1812 a commission as Captain in the 
regular army of the United States. A few days later he re- 
ceived orders from Major General Duncan Mc Arthur (at 
that time in command of the 2d Division of the Ohio Mili- 
tia) to transmit at once from his brigade its proportion of 
the twelve hundred men required of the State for the coming 
campaign against the British. These orders placed Robert 
Lucas in a rather peculiar position. But having received no 
orders as a regular army officer he concluded after some 



346 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

deliberation that the urgency of the call for volunteers ne- 
cessitated his attending to his duties as a Brigadier General 
in the Ohio Militia. Without delay he set about recruiting 
volunteer companies from his brigade. 

The need for volunteers was urgent, and Lucas threw him- 
self into the enlistment with all his enthusiasm. Instead of 
waiting for a position as officer, which he could undoubtedly 
have had after the organization of his own troops into vol- 
unteer companies, he enlisted from the first as a private in 
one of the companies which chose his brother John Lucas as 
Captain. His purpose seems to have been to encourage 
enlistments among the men of his brigade. His name re- 
mained upon the company roll throughout the campaign, 
but he seems to have preferred the independent duties of a 
scout, guide, express, and ranger, as the Journal clearly 
shows. Thus Robert Lucas was at one and the same time 
a Captain in the United States Army, a Brigadier General 
in the Ohio Militia, and a private in a volunteer company. 

The volunteer companies started on their march to the 
rendezvous at Dayton, Ohio, on April 27, 1812; and from 
this point The Robert Lucas Journal tells its own story. 

Beginning with the twenty-fifth day of April, 1812, the 
Journal records the details of the campaign until August 
16, when Detroit was surrendered. Then it tells of the re- 
turn of the disheartened Ohio volunteers across Lake Erie 
and the State of Ohio and down the river to Portsmouth. 
It ends on September 4, 1812, with the arrival of Robert 
Lucas at his home in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. 
One hundred and forty-one pages are devoted to this daily 
chronicle. Following these are twenty-eight pages upon 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 347 

which are recorded religious poems, evidently composed by 
Robert Lucas in the later years of his life. 

But this unique manuscript did not remain altogether un- 
known to the world. It has been used at least twice in 
preparing short sketches of Robert Lucas. In 1834 the 
writer of a newspaper sketch 1 favoring the reelection of 
Lucas as Governor of Ohio evidently had access to its 
pages. Again in 1870, Dr. Frederick Lloyd, at that time 
Corresponding Secretary of The State Historical Society of 
Iowa, wrote for the Annals of Iowa a brief sketch of 
Iowa's first Governor which shows intrinsic evidence that he 
had perused the pages of The Robert Lucas Journal. 

The most notable instance of the use of the manuscript, 
however, was at the close of the Hull campaign. Among 
the four Colonels in the campaign under General Hull was 
Lewis Cass. Immediately after the surrender of Detroit, 
General Hull was taken to Canada as a prisoner of war. 
Colonel Cass, however, started at once for Washington, 
where he made a detailed report of the campaign to the 
Secretary of War. This report severely condemned Gen- 
eral Hull for his conduct of the campaign and was largely 
instrumental in bringing about the court-martial and con- 
viction of that officer. A comparison of the Cass Report 
with The Robert Lucas Journal reveals the fact that Cass 
incorporated into his Report sections taken verbatim, or 
with slight alterations, from the Journal. The conclusion 
that Cass copied from Lucas rather than the reverse is 
strengthened by the fact that the paragraphs in which the 



1 This sketch is included in a manuscript collection in the possession of the 
Western Reserve Historical Society. 



348 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

duplication occurs most frequently are those describing in 
great detail the events at Detroit on the day of the surren- 
der, at which time Colonel Cass was miles away on an 
expedition to the River Raisin. It is fair to presume that 
Lucas loaned the Journal to Colonel Cass to assist him iu 
the preparation of his Report. 

The record is entirely in the handwriting of Robert Lucas. 
It was written in camp and on the march; for he evidently 
carried the Journal with him throughout the campaign. On 
August 25, as he was leaving Cleveland on his return home 
he records: "I here got a knapsack and rll[l]ed it with my 
uniform cloth [e]s hat, my Journal, and Such other articles 
as I did not wish to leave." The writing, naturally, is hur- 
ried and in some cases rather difficult to decipher. Espe- 
cially is this true in regard to proper names to which the 
context gives no clue. Care has been taken to verify these 
names from other available sources, but in many cases such 
verification is impossible. 

In editing the manuscript of The Robert Lucas Journal 
certain rules have been followed which may require a 
brief explanation. An effort has been made to reproduce 
the Journal with exactness as regards spelling, punctuation, 
and capitalization. Where letters have been omitted by the 
author, they have been supplied in editorial brackets. An 
exception, however, has been made in some cases where 
words seem to have been uniformly used as abbreviations, 
as Gnl for General and Colo for Colonel. 

Certain materials taken from the collection of Lucas let- 
ters and papers have been printed in appendices, not as a 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 349 

part of the Journal but simply as throwing additional light 
upon the story of the campaign. 

The editor wishes to make special acknowledgment to 
Professor Benjamin F. Sharubaugh for valuable advice and 
assistance in preparing the manuscript for the press. 

Joiix C. Parish 



JOURNAL 

Received orders in Scioto County to march a Company of 
Volunteers and a Rifle Company from said County to De- 
troit, 1 — Issued orders on the 25 th April 1812 Directing Said 
Companies to march on the 27 th , and assemble at AV m Lucass 
12 miles up Scioto — Met part of said Companies at Ports- 
mouth on the day appointed and commenc[e]d the march 
accompanied by a number of the Citizens as a testimony of 
gratitude for the patriotism manifested in said County — 

[Tuesday, April the Twenty-eighth] 

28 th Both Companies having assembled they proceeded to 
march to Pe Pee, 2 and Encamped 

[Wednesday, April the Twenty-ninth] 

on the morning of the 29 th the Volunteer Company, having 
been joined by the Volunteers from Pe Pee, an election was 
ordered, when John Lucas 3 was elected Captain Dennis 



1 Robert Lucas was at this time Brigadier General of the 2d Brigade of the 2d 
Division of the Ohio Militia. — Editor. 

' A small creek in what is now Pike County. The neighborhood was knonn 
as Pe Pee; and a township of Pike County also bears the name. — Editor. 

s A younger brother of Robert Lucas. — Editor. 



350 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Murphy Lieut[e]n[an]t. and Joseph Barber Ensign, the 
Rifle Company having been previously organized David 
Rupe Capt 1 Tho s Arnold Lut and Richard MeDougal En- 
sign — Both of Said Companies thus organized proceeded on 
their march to Chillicothe, where they Encamped and Drew 
provisions — 

[ Thursday, April the Thirtieth ] 

30 th Remained at Chillicothe making arrangements to get 
Camp kettels waggon <fec to Enable us to proceed to Dayton 

[Friday, May the First] 

May V 1S12 marched towards Dayton, and Encamped at 
old town 2 and experienced a Disagreeable rainy night 

[ Saturday, May the Second ] 

2 nd marched on in the rain about 15 miles 

[Sunday, May the Third] 

3 left the Company and went to Dayton to get provisions 
to Send to meet the Companies — 

[ Monday, May the Fourth ] 

4 1 " arfrjived in Dayton and started provisions in M r Buck- 
hannors Cart 

[ Tuesday, May the Fifth ] 

5 th returned and met the troop and marched with them to 
Dayt[o]n was received by the troops at Dayt[o]n with 
honor and politeness — 

[Wednesday, May the Sixth ] 

th little was don[e] but repo[r]t 



1 See below, Appendix A. — Editor. 

2 Now Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 351 

[Thursday, May the Seventh] 

7 th the other three Companies from my Brigade being pres- 
ent to wit Cap? Fryatt Keyser, and Capt Ullery I proceeded 
to organize them together with Capt Rupe's and Lncass from 
Scioto into one Battallion and ordered an election to be held 
at the house of Major Reed in Dayton accordingly when 
James Denny was Unanimously elected Major of said Bat- 
tallion, William A. Trimble 1 was also unanimously elected 
Major of the other Battallion from Gnl McArthurs Division. 
Gnl McArthur 2 was on the Same day Unanimously elected 
Colo of the Volunte[e]r Regt from his Division — 3 

[ Friday, May the Eighth ] 

8 th an encampment was laid out on the Commons East of 
Dayton and news having ar[r]ived from Greenvill[e] of 
the Murder of M r Rush by Indians and also the Murder of 
some Indians I was requested by Governor Meigs 4 to take 
30 men of Capt Rup[e]s men and repair to Greenville to 
assertain the Situation of the frontier — 

[ Saturday, May the Ninth ] 

9 th Started to Greenville with 33 men and went to Razor 
Mill on Stillwater and encamped finding the inhabitants] 
much alarmed and moving of[f] 



1 For a biographical sketch of William A. Trimble, see the Ohio Archaeological 
and Historical Quarterly, Vol. XIV, No. 3, July, 1905, pp. 225-246. — Editor. 

2 Governor of Ohio, 1830-1832.— Editor. 

8 The three regiments of Ohio volunteers were commanded by Colonels Duncan 
McArthur, James Findlay, and Lewis Cass respectively. These volunteer troops 
were joined by the 4th Regiment of Regulars from Port Vincennes under com- 
mand of Lieutenant Colonel James Miller. — Editor. 

4 Governor Return Jonathan Meigs, as commander in chief of the Ohio Militia, 
took charge of the army until the arrival of General Hull. — Editor. 



352 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

[ Sunday, May the Tenth ] 

10 proce[e]ded on to M r Williams on Stillwater where we 
found a party of men building a Blockhouse the inhabitants 
having all fled from their homes and assembled at that place 
being 1G miles from Greenville — 

[ Monday, May the Eleventh ] 

11 on particular enquiry I found the alarm to be principally 
unfounded I left 20 men to assist the inhabitants] to build 
a blockhous[e] dispa[t]ched Several up Stillwater to the 
head and proceeded on to Greenville in company with Capt 
Rupe and Six men — found the Countary intirely deserted by 
the inhabitants except two families one at the old garrison 
and one at a mill in sight of the oth[er] both of which 
places a Company of men were Stationed and had erected 
block houses. 

[ Tuesday, May the Twelfth ] 

12 Explored the Countary up Muddy Creek went to the 
place where the Murders was Commit [t]ed and when going 
in the evening to to inter the Dead Indians we Started an 
Indian from the bushes who had been laying in ambush in 
sight of the garrison with a view as was supposed to kill 
some person and retire and when in pursuite of him we 
found Several packs and four guns that was hid by Indians 
that was then at the Blockhouse of the Dellaware Miamas 
and Munces 1 the guns was owned by the[m] when brought 
in, and the Indians was Sent to the Indian agent at Troy — 

[ Wednesday, May the Thirteenth ] 

13 agreeably to our orders returned to Stillwater Collected 
the balance of our Company, those who went up Stillwater 



Munseys, one of the three tribes of the Delaware Indians. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 353 

having returned and made no discovery we prepared to 
return to Dayton. The Countary was generally Deserted 
without a caus[e] 

[Thursday, May the Fourteenth ] 

14 returned to Dayton and Joined the troops 

[ Friday, May the Fifteenth ] 

15 th made a report of the Situation of the frontier to Gover- 
ner Meigs The Gov [er] nor requested me not to leave the 
army but informed me He would write to the Secr[e]t[a]ry 
at war and assured me that I should neither loos rank nor 
emmolument by attending the army I Consented to remain 
with the army on those Conditions 1 

[Saturday, May the Sixteenth to Monday, May the Eighteenth] 

16, 17, 18 remained with the troops and dissiplined the 
officers at their trainings — 

[Tuesday, May the Nineteenth] 

19 th was informed by Govern[or] Meigs that he wished 
Some person to go through the wilderness to detroit as an 
express and solicited me to undertake the mission to which 
I consented I would 

[Wednesday, May the Twentieth] 

20 th done my duty with the army — 

[Thursday, May the Twenty-first] 

21 st was Solicited by Governor Meigs and Colo Cass 2 to 
assist in Detaching a part of Colo McArthurs Regt and 



1 Lucas had heen recently appointed a Captain in the United States Army and 
was waiting for an assignment as a regular army officer. — Editor. 

8 Colonel Lewis Cass, Governor of the Territory of Michigan from 1813 to 1831 
and later prominent in national politics. — Editor. 



354 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

attaching th[e]m to Colo Cass, to wit Capt Lucas and Capt 
Pinney['s] [?] Comp[a]ny and promised me the Command 
of the best Battallion in the army if I would Consent, to 
which I replied, tha[t] when I engaged as a volunteer it 
was neither with a view to gain rank or emmolum[e]nt but 
purely to serve my Country and as I Could have the Com- 
mand of the Battallion raised from my Brigade, I felt a 
delicacy in accepting the Com[ma]nd of troops from other 
Brigades. 

[ Friday, May the Twenty-second] 

22 d Similar applications was mad[e] but no Satisfaction 
was give[n] them by me. I informed Major Denny and 
Major Trimbell and they opposed the detaching of any part 
of the[i]r Battallions in any such manner Thus the pro- 
ject was abandoned, — there being a supposition that there 
was Indians viewing the Camp of nights as a nois[e] had 
be[e]n heard like turk[e]ys Calling the night before. I 
went and lay in the bushes out of the Camp with Sml Herd 
and watched for th[e]m but none was discovered 

[Saturday, May the Twenty -third ] 

23 Gnl Hull 1 ar[r]ived and reviewed the army with Gov 
Meigs and I was informed by Governor Meigs that I would 
be wanted to go to Detroit in a few Days 

[ Sunday, May the Twenty-fourth ] 

24 th I was introduced by Governor Meigs to Gnl Hull. I 
was informed by Gnl Hull the intention of the express, and 
the rout[e] he wished me to take, and that he wished me to 
start the next day to which I Consented 



1 Brigadier General William Hull, Governor of the Territory of Michigan and 
in command of the Northwestern Army. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 355 

[ Monday, May the Twenty-fifth ] 

25 th I prepared to Start to Detroit Called on Gnl Hull, was 
instructed to pass through Dellawar[e], the Sanduskes, by 
the foot of the rappids, the river Raisin and then to Detroit 
was furnished with a number of addresses to the Different 
chiefs of Indians with Dispa[t]ches to M r Varnum 1 at 
Lower Sandusky, 2 to Col. Anderson at the River Raisin and 
to M r Atwater 3 the Acting Governor at detroit. This day 
being the day appointed to transfer the Command of the 
army from Governor Meigs to Gnl Hull I waited to see the 
Command transfer [r]ed and then proceed [e]d on my 
Journey in Coinpa[n]y with with William Denny about 15 
Miles where we lodged all night — 

[Tuesday, May the Twenty-sixth] 

26 th proceeded on to Capt Gabriels on the head of Darby 4 
made inquiry and found the inhabitants much ala[r]med 

[Wednesday, May the Twenty-seventh ] 

27 th proceeded on to Dellaware where we prepared for our 
journey made inquiry of the situation of the frontier was 
informed that the inhabitants was moving of[f]. I en- 
deavor[e]d to quiet the[i]r fears by assuring th[e]m that 
they would be protected and that men would be sent to 
their assistance] immediately I wished Some person to go 
with me to lower Sandusky to return with Dispa[t]ches 
but none Could be got but Capt Welch a man of valure 



1 Jacob B. Varnum, United States Factor at Sandusky and later at Chicago — 
See American State Papers, Vol V, Indian Affairs, Vol. II, pp. 361, 420.— Editor. 

2 Now Fremont, the county seat of Sandusky County, Ohio. — Editor. 

» Reuben Atwater, Acting Governor of the Territory of Michigan. — Editor. 
4 A creek emptying into the Scioto River opposite Circleville. — Editor. 



356 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

and perseverance he engaged to go with me pripared accord- 
ingly to start next mor[n]ing 

[Thursday, May the Twenty-eighth] 

28 th proceed [ed] on from Dellaware to Sandusky, Called 
at M r Pyatts neare the Boundary line where the inhabitants 
had assembled and was stockading around his house I 
advised them not to quit the[i]r farms and assured them 
that they would be protected, passed on from there to 
upper Sandusky, lodged at the home of an Indian by the 
name of Willy Hermky was treated hospata[b]ly by him 

[Friday, May the Twenty-ninth] 

29 proceeded on was accompanied by Willy Ilemky, passed 
through Colo Crawfords Battle ground. 1 Hemky explained 
to me the nature of the nature of the battle sho[we]d me 
where the Indians cam [e] in upon the whites <fec, proceeded 
on to Negro town got an interpreter Called all the Chiefs 
together that was at home in the neighborhood of Upper 
Sandusky. 2 I read and explained Gnl Hulls address to 
them they all appeared to be well pleased and expressed 
great friendship and a full determination to adher[e] to the 
treaty of Greenville] 3 The Indians appeared to be plant- 
i[n]g their Corn as usual but was alarmed at the news of so 
large an army being raised, — I then proceeded on to 
lower Sandusky Saw a number of Indians but no hostile 
appearance, crossed Timokney 4 where Colo Crawford was 



1 For an account of this battle, see Hill's Crawford's Campaign in Magazine of 
Western History, Vol. II, No. 1, May, 1885, pp. 19-3S.— Editor. 

2 See below, Appendix C. 

» Negotiated by General Wayne in 1795. — Editor. 
4 Tyruochtee Creek. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 357 

burned gave an Indian a Dollar to ferry us ov[e]r in a 
eano[e], the waters all being extrem[e]ly high, ar[r]ived 
at Lower Sandusky deliv[e]red my Dispa[t]ches to M r 
Varnum, found that place almost entirely deserted both by 
the whites and Indians. The Ottowa Indians and the 
Miami having principally moved of[f], the Wiandots are 
planting no Corn and every thing appears in confusion, 
requested Mr Varnum to hold a Councill with the Indians 
and to inform the Governor and Gnl Hull any particular 
relative to the situation of said place — 

[Saturday, May the Thirtieth ] 

30 th remained at Sandusky, M r Varnum held a Councill 
with the Wiandott and Munsies Indians, the Wiandott 
appear to be pleased and I believe they will be friendly to 
the United States, the Munsis appear otherwis[e] and I 
believe they will be directed entirely by the British Should 
they not be restrained by fear the Co[u]ncill broke up, M r 
Varnum informed the Gnl the result, I wrote to Gov 
M[e]igs Gnl Hull and Major Den[n]y, Crossed ov[e]r San- 
dusky and lodged with M r Butler — 

[Sunday, May the Thirty-first] 

31 _ Crossed the Sandusky to M r Varn[u]m — deliv- 
[e]r[e]d my dispa[t]ches to Capt Welch and proceeded 
on to the foot of the rapids 1 through a tremendious Swamp 
of 40 m[i]l[e]s Distanc[e], hired a pilote to go with us to 
Riv[e]r Carron 2 made a bark Cano[e] Crossed gave him 
two Dollars for his trouble, he returned and we proceeded 

1 The rapids of the Mauuiee River. — Editor. 

* Probably a corruption of Carrying River, an old name for Portage River. — 
Editor. 



358 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

on to the foot of the rapids the Swamp being without inter- 
mission from kne[e] Deep to Belly Deep to our horses for 
8 or 10 miles to gether. We ar[r]ived at the Miami of the 
lake 1 at the foot of the rapids at Dusk Swam the riv[e]r 
and lodged at Capt Hulls where we refreshed ourselves 
fo[u]nd the inhabitants in a state of alarm and in great 
Confusion I informed th[e]m of the approaching army 
assur[e]d them of protection] advised them not to quit 
the[i]r hom[e]s but to Defend themselves to the last 
extremity in case of an attack, left a copy of Gnl [Hull's] 
address to the indians with th[e]m Directed them to Com- 
mun[i]cate it to the Indians on Miami, and prepared to 
proceed on to Detroit 

[ Monday, June the First ] 

June 1' proceeded on to the river Raison Deliv[e]red my 
Disjia[t]ches to Colo Anderson found the inhabitaut[s] in 
a similar Situation to those at the foot of the rapids made 
Similar Communications to them, left a copy of Gnl Hulls 
address with Colo Anderson, and prepared to proceed on my 
Jo[u]rney, W m Denny['s] Horse gave out I left him at this 
place. This is a beautiful Countary but badly cultitivated 

[ Tuesday, June the Second ] 

2 nd proceeded on to Detroit in Company with M r Beard the 
contra [c]t[o]r at Detroit, passed near a large encampment 
of Indians on the River Urian- through Brownstown and 
Maguawga two Ind[i]an towns found them in a state of 
Confusion and but few indian men at home. Read Gnl 



1 Where the name Miami of the Lake is used it refers to the Maumee River. 
The words Maumee and Miami were originally the same. — Editor. 
- The Huron River. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 359 

Hulls address to George Blue Jacket son to the noted 
old ck[i]ef, he appear[e]d pleas[e]d with the Contents 
and manifested great fr[ie]ndship ar[r]ived at Detroit 
about 4 oclo[c]k P M Delivered rny dispa[t]ches to the 
acting Governor was politely received introduc[e]d to to the 
officers of Detroit generally, and treated with great hospi- 
tality, lodged at the house of M r Beard — 

[ Wednesday, June the Third ] 

3 Dined with Capt Hickman from Virginia Son in law to 
Gul Hull, Solicited by Him to make his house my Home 
while I tarried at Detroit accepted his offer and was very 
Politely and hospitably treated by him and M rs Hickman 

[ Thursday, June the Fourth ] 

4~ made Considerable inqu[i]ry relative to the situati[o]n 
of the territo[r]y fo[u]nd it to be populated by an ignor- 
ant Set of french that is attached to no particular political 
principal, the territory in a state of alarm, their farms 
small, and no Correct Calculation to be made on the Militia 
with regard to Defence The territo[r]y generally like a 
body without a head — 

[ Friday, June the Fifth ] 

5 th Dined with M r Atwater the Acting Governor was 
politely treated by him — 

[ Saturday, June the Sixth ] 

6 th Dined with Capt Whistler in the garr[i]s[o]n in corn- 
pa [n]y with a n[u]mb[e]r of gentlem[e]n treated with 
politeness and sp[e]nt the afternoon very agreeably 

[ Sunday, June the Seventh, to Saturday, June the Thirteenth ] 

from 7 th to 14 th tarri[e]d at Capt Hickmans and enjoyed 
myself very agreeab[l]y read and examined the princi- 



360 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

pi [e]s of the new tackticks and acquired a general infor- 
mat[io]n of the Situation of Michigan territory and Upper 
Canada, during which time I was on a hunting party on 
hog Island, above Detroit and Sun[dr]y other parti [e]s, 
Several Co[u]nc[i]ls with the Indians at the hous[eJ of 
the acting governor, with the Wiandots Chippaways Otto- 
ways Pottawattomi and sundry other tribe[s] — some ap- 
peared insol[e]nt and other[s] extremely fr[i]endly upon 
the whole they are in confusion and at a loss how to act 
fear Can only restrain th[e]m from joining the British, they 
are much alarmed at the news of our approaching army 

[ Sunday, June the Fourteenth ] 

14' Capt Welch having ar[r]ived as an express from the 
army handed me a letter from Gnl Hull informing me he 
had changed the rout[e] of the army Sinc[e] I left him and 
that he would Come immediately from Urbanna to the foot 
of the rapids he also handed a letter to Mr B[e]ard the con- 
tr[ac]t[o]r M r Beard wishing to hear from a vessel of his 
previ[o]us to his return [in] g an ans[w]er to Gnl Hull Con- 
cluded that he would go down the Biv[e]r to meet her, my- 
self and Capt Welch accompani[e]d him we De[s]c[e]nded 
the river within a mile of Maiden 1 I viewed the Situation of 
the British Garrison from on board the vessel while we 
was in Sight Queen Sharlotte a British 20 gun ship ar[r]ived 
at Maldon with Governor brock 2 and a reinforcem[e]nt of 
a hundr[e]d British troops. We returned to Detroit. 



1 The garrison of the British across the river and some miles helow Detroit. 
South of the fort was the village of Amherstburgh. — Editor. 

3 Brigadier General Isaac Brock, provisional Lieutenant Governor of Upper 
Canada and in command of the British forces. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 361 

[ Monday, June the Fifteenth ] 

1 5 the day being rainy I remained at Detroit and prepared 
to Start the next morning to meet the army 

[Tuesday, June the Sixteenth] 

10 th Started and returned to the riv[e]r Raisin fo[u]nd 

Brownsto[w]n and Maguawga much as they were when I 

passed through them fo[u]nd "William Denny my comerade 

well. 

[Entered on ]\j et 15 canofel loads of Otto way Chiefs and oth- 

the margin] L J 

e[rs] at the Riv[e]r Urn 1 going to Mald[e]n. 

[Wednesday, June the Seventeenth ] 

17 tarri[e]d at M r Godfrays at the riv[e]r Raisin waiting 
for Tho s Knaggs 2 an interpreter who was requested by the 
gov[er]n[o]r to accompa[n]y me to the army was informed 
by M r Godfray that Govern [or] Brock returned from Mal- 
d[e]n on the 16' down the lake 

[Thursday, June the Eighteenth] 

18 th returned to the foot of the rapids, met on the way 
about 40 Indian Horses loaded with wom[e]n children &c 
moving from Solomons town 3 and round heads to[w]n 4 on 
Scioto and Stony creeke to Detroit (as they said,) or Brovvns- 
to[w]n, the men was walking with th[e]m perhaps th[i]rty 
in number. 



1 The Huron River. — Editor. 

2 One of rive brothers, all of whom acted as Indian interpreters and guides. 
See Knaggs' Memoir of James Knaggs, of Monroe, in Michigan Pioneer and His- 
torical Collections, Vol. XVII, 1890, pp. 217-225; also Lossing's Pictorial Field- 
Book of the War of ISIS, pp. 362, 363.— Editor. 

3 An Indian town in what is now Logan County, Ohio. — Editor. 

4 An Indian town at the head waters of the Scioto in what is now Hardin 
County, Ohio. — Editor. 



362 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

[Friday, June the Nineteenth ] 

19 th Started from the foot of the rapids to meet the army 
proceeded through the Wilderness towards Urbanna — trav- 
eled ab[o]ut 25 miles, a very rainy day and encamped in 
what is Called the Black Swamp, 1 had a Disagreeable night 
of wet and Musketoes 

[ Saturday, June the Twentieth ] 

20 th proceeded on to Blanchard fork of A[u]glaize Stop[p]ed 
at an old field, let our horses graise and picked strawberries 
the while. Crossed the Creek and encamped on the head 
waters of the great Miami, was Surrounded in the night by 
hostile Indians as was Supposed, we left our fire and lay in 
the Bushes without fear the inus<jueatos and [g]nats tor- 
mented us Severely the Indians finding that we was on the 
alert bore off we Saw the tracks of the dogs next morning 
and the trail in the grass. I pres[u]m[e] they was a small 
party of the Pottawattomies, and not knowing our fourc[e], 
supposing it to be greater than it was they bore of [f] and 
left us there was but 4 men in compa[n]y 2 of which only 
had arms, we was informed by Some men from fort wayne 
at the foot of the rapids that there was a war party of Pot- 
towattom[ie]s out in that Direction 

[Sunday, June the Twenty-first] 

21' Started early in the morn[in]g it began to rain and 
rained tremendiously untill about 3 oclock in the afternoon 
ab[o]ut which tim[e] we reached Round heads town on the 
head of Scioto we found it entirely deserted by the Indians, 
we proceeded on to Solomons town on Stony Creek one of 

1 A large swamp in the present counties of Henry, Wood, and Sandusky. — 
Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 363 

the branches of Mad River we there found Some Indians 
and made inquiry about the army they informed us they 
had passed us and taken a rout[e] to shun the black Swamp 
and directed us where to strike the road. We struck the 
road and overtook Some Waggons that was taking foreg to 
the army we encamped with th[e]m got some korn for our 
horses and provisions for ourselves — 

[ Monday, June the Twenty-second ] 

22 proceeded on to fort McArthur 1 on Scioto got our 
Brakefasts of Capt Dell the Commandant, proceeded on 
overtook the rear-g[u]ard about 3 oclock P M passed them 
and came to the ma[i]n army encamped at Camp Necessity 
a Disagreeable Muddy place, — Delivered my Dispa[t]ches 
to the gnl, was politely received and thanked for my vigil- 
[a]nce, — invited to remain in the generals family but see- 
ing so many fops and so much parade and no action among 
them I Chose to attach myself to Gnl McArthurs Regiment, 
return [e]d and lodged with Gnl McArthur — 

[ Tuesday, June the Twenty-third ] 

23 rd remained at Camp Nec[e]ssity and erected a Block- 
house, I wrote back to my father and M r Kendall, 2 an alarm 
in Camp that a man was Shot at with an arrow the army 
alarmed and under arms about Brake of day, I attached 
myself at the time of the alarm to my Brothers Compa[n]y 

[ Wednesday, June the Twenty -fourth ] 

24 Broke up Camp and marched about 4 miles, during this 



'A fort built about three miles southwest of Kenton, in what is now Hardin 
County. See Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio, centennial edition, Vol. I, 
pp. 870,878.— Editor. 

8 A brother-in-law of Robert Lucas. — Editor. 



364 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

march I was on the flanks with the rifle men, but encamped 
with Capt Lucas 

[ Thursday, June t.he Twenty-fifth ] 

25 the army marched to fort Finley 1 on Blanchards [Fork] 
of A[u]glaize where we overtook Colo Finleys Regiment 
who had went on from McArthur to cut the road, here is a 
Blockhouse erected in a beautiful! Situation and a hand- 
some countary 

[Friday, June the Twenty-sixth ] 

26 the army remained at this encampment except Colo Cass 
Regiment who went on as Pinoneers to Cut the road, here 
the army left all the baggage that Could be Spared, left 
Some men to bring them on by water and to keep garrison, 
this morning Colo Dunlap ar[r]ived from Chillicothe on 
express 

[ Saturday, June the Twenty -seventh ] 

27 th the army crossed the Creek and marched about 12 
miles and encamped, throwing a breastwork of timber 
aro[u]nd the Camp, this day I was employed by the gnl in 
assisting to bring up the bagga[ge] and to go a head in the 
afternoon to view an incamp[m]ent 

[ Sunday, June the Twenty-eighth ] 

28 marched on to Carran 2 River where we threw up a 
Breastwork of timber and used great precaution during the 
night to prevent an alarm 

1 Now Findlay, the county seat of Hancock County, Ohio. Named in honor of 
Colonel James Findlay, in command of the 2d Regiment of Ohio Volunteers in 
Hull's campaign. Findlay was later a member of Congress from Ohio and was, 
in 1834, an unsuccessful candidate against Robert Lucas for the governorship of 
the State of Ohio. — Editor. 

2 See note on page 357. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 365 

[ Monday, June the Twenty-ninth ] 

29 th Marched on to the rappids of Miami of the lake over- 
took Colo Cass and the whole army encamped on the the 
east side of the Riv[e]r directly opposite Gnl "Waynes old 
Battle ground I was dispa[t]ched with M r Berry to view 
the river and to ascertain the best foarding we found the 
one at Preskial 1 at the old battleground to be the best and 
reported accordingly 

[ Tuesday, June the Thirtieth ] 

30 This morning I was engaged in conveying the Sick over 
the river in boats and when the Sick had crossed the genl 
Concluded to cross the whole army in boats which he did, 
the Waggons and Horses having crossed at the ford, I then 
went in compa[n]y with Several gentlemen and a pilote 
that was in Gnl Waynes Battle' 2 and viewed the battle 
ground manutely, the ar[m]y this day marched in hand- 
som[e] ord[e]r through the village at the foot of the rap- 
ids and encamped on a prararie about two miles below the 
village in Sight, below the old British garrison, this garri- 
son has been a well built garrison with regular Basti[o]ns 
and Ditches with Double walls but is now Demolished, it 
being the garrison the Indians fled to after Waynes battle 

[ Wednesday, July the First ] 

July 1' the army marched on the 4 th Eegiment went on as 
Pinonners this day I was taken with a flux and fev[e]r So 
that I was Scarcely able to ride, but I advanced on before 



1 Probably refers to Presque Isle Hill, the site of Wayne's battle. See Los- 
sing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812, pp. 54, 55. — Editor. 

8 Sometimes called the Battle of the Fallen Timbers, fought on August 20 
1794.— Editor. 



366 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

the army with, the Spies this day the army marched about 
12 miles and encamped in a handsome plain, I had a Dis- 
agreeable night and took some medicine. 

[Entered on a Considerable quantity of Bago-ao-e, the Sick, 

the margin] x J ° & & _' 

and Considerable of the peoples private prop- 
erty Sent on in a vessle 

[Thursday, July the Second] 

omi m y "being onwell I rode on a head to the river Raisin 
where I met Some gentlemen from Detroit they informed us 
that Teeumseh 1 was at Maiden that there was about two 
thous[an]d Indians at Maldon and on the river Uran 2 and 
Brown[s]town that they Saw about two hundred of the 
S[i]oux Indians at Brownstown as they passed with the Brit- 
ish flag hoisted, and that we Certainly would be attacked be- 
fore we got to detroit ou Receiving this intelligence I Caught 
new life the fever left me and I prepared and proposed to go 
on to Brownstown to view the Situation and Disposition of 
the Indians the proposition was approved by all the officers 
the army this night encamped on the South Side of the 
riv[e]r Raison I lodged in a house being onwell and pre- 
pared to start next morning 

[ Friday, July the Third ] 

3 rd I repaired to the General was given the Command of 
the spi[e]s and started on to brownstown being fur- 
nished with a fresh horse by the gnl. The Spies parted 
and Sco[u]red the Countary in Different Directions niy- 



1 A Shawnee warrior and leader of the confederation of Indian tribes forming 
alliance with the British forces. — Editor. 

2 The Huron River. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 367 

self and five others went to Brownstown and found the 
Indians instead of hostile array engaged in repairing their 
houses, they had built a new Councell house Since I had 
passed through and manifested every appearance of friend- 
ship we then repa[i]red to the big Rock' the principle 
Crossing plac[e] to Maldon, found about 30 of the Otto was 
Drunk on the bank Could get no Satisfaction from them, 
The Crafts was all on the Canadian Side the S[i]oux 
Indians that had been seen at Brownstown having crossed 
over to Maldon, I prevailed upon the chiefs at this place to 
return with me to the army to explain to the Genl the Situ- 
ation of their town and those Indians that had Crossed to 
maldon, and returned to meet the army in Company with 
M r Walker a white man that lives at the Big Rock (the 
Crossing pl[a]c[e]) and Some Indians. We fo[u]nd the 
army encamped at Swan Creek 2 strongly fortified by timber 
about 9 miles from Brownstown, I immediately reported to 
the Genl my proceedings and discoveries 

^"gin] We was formed to a c[e]rt[ai]nty by the in- 
dians that the vessel with our baggage had been 
take[n] by the British, but that the boat with 
the Sick had gone up safe 

[ Saturday, July the Fourth ] 

4 th having been informed that the Indians and British had 
Crossed from Maldon to Rosial 3 Island and probably had 

1 Opposite Maiden. — Editor. 

2 A small creek flowing into the Maumee River at Toledo. The early settle- 
ment at this point, which later became Toledo, was known as Swan Creek.— 
Editor. 

3 Probably intended for Grosse Isle, which lay in the Detroit River opposite 
Maiden. — Editor. 



368 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Crossed the river above with a view to attack us I was 
requested by the Genl to proceed on and examine the banks 
of the river Uron 1 to the river Sacroix, 2 about 18 miles from 
the ar[m]y and within the 9 miles of Detroit it being within 
the white settlement and at the head of the Island. I did 
So and examined manutely but was advised by the Indians 
at Brownstown to be Cautious least we should be killed by 
Some of the Indians from Maiden we was Carefull but went 
to the extent of our orders we assertained that no one had 
Cross [ed] from Canada but heard Considerable Shooting 
on the Island we on our return was informed by Some 
friendly Indians, that the British intended Crossing over 
that night and either to attack the army or Detroit — we 
returned and made a report of our proceedings to the Gen- 
eral — about 11 oclock this night the Genl Sent for me 
requested me to take Some of the Spies and repair to the 
big rock to watch the Crossing of the riv[e]r (the army at 
the time lay at the river Uran 1 having marched but six 
miles being detained throwing a bridge over the river being 
ab[o]ut 4 miles from the Big Rock) the army was kep[t] 
under anns all night the expectations of an attack was 
Strengthened by the discovery of a British 20 gun Ship 
Laying in sight of the Camp in the lake which was sup- 
posed to contain troops and Could bumbard our Camp from 
the lake. I obeyed his Command and started went about 3 
miles was hailed by a man who spoke english in a very 
abrupt manner, we wheeled into Bushes and the Compa[n]y 
that was with me wished to fire on them but expecting an 



1 The Huron River. — Editor. 

- Probably the River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 36!) 

en[e]niy nigh and our number small being only five or six 
I thought it prude [n]t to return to the Camp and inform 
the Genl, thinking that perhaps it might be Some of our 
own men that might be out unbeknown to me, and if not it 
must be a party of the En[e]my that had landed from 
on board the vessel, that might be far Superior to us in 
number being too far from the Camp to get any assistance, 
I returned to the Camp made no alarm repaired to the Gnl 
enquired of him whether any of our men was without the 
lines he informed me there was none to his knowledge, he 
requested me to take the Spies about 20 in n[u]mb[e]r and 
pass the pickets and to scour the Countary and watch the road 
towards the enemy and endeavor to assertain who it was and 
whether there was an en[e]my in tha[t] quarter or not. I 
did so we passed the pickets about a half a mile or a mile 
and explored and watched the roads till day — The general 
was mistak[e]n he had Sent on a party of m[e]n who he 
had forgot and instead of going to where they was directed 
they went a peace and lay in the Bushes at the side of the 
road who on our approach instead of making themselves 
known was alarmed and acted in this imprudent manner by 
bailing us not like a friend but an enemy. They may 
thank me for their lives had it not struck me that it might 
be Some of our men they would Certainly have been 
kil[l]ed on meditation I conceive the Gnl acted very 
imprudent by detaching us that night in the first place to 
watch the Crossing of the river in the heart of the en[e]my 
four miles from Camp through a wilderness, and in the 
second by Sending us with so small a party without the 
Pickets, had we met an en[e]my in either Case every Soul 



370 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

of us must have been Sacraficed as we could have got no 
assistance] from the army being Such a distan[ce] from it 
that we would have been intirely Cut of [f] from the army. 
I thoug[ht] of no fear, nor nothing els[e] but to do my 
duty at the time, untill I heard the remarks of the offic[e]rs 
the next day Sev[e]ral of them declared they would not 
have went. My principle is to do my duty whatever may 
be the task being Satisfied that courage guided by prudence 
n[e]ver Shortened a mans days — 

[ Sunday, July the Fifth ] 

5 th the Camp broke up and marched for Detroit I went on 
ahead as usual, we hea[r]d great firing of Cannon at 
Detroit. We Supposed that Detroit was attacked as we had 
heard of a British vessle going up the night before. The 
Sound of the Cannon hurried our pace and about 4 oclock 
P. M. the army ar[r]ived at the Spring well on the bank of 
the Eiv[e]r opposite Sandwich within three miles and in 
Sight of Detroit having marched about 20 miles that day 
where they encamped. The firing that was heard was from 
the Batt[e]ry at Detroit, firing upon the vessle that had 
come up and upon the town of Sandwich, they having 
assertained to a Certainty that the British had taken our 
vessle that was Sent from the rapids with a quantity of the 
Baggage of the ar[m]y the offi[ce]rs Mon[e]y papers Cloth- 
ing <fec and and those that was in the vessle five ladies[?] 
three offie[e]rs and about 30 men 1 
[ Entered on This morning I was in Gnl Hulls Markee and 

the margin] ° 

Colo Cass came in, he had been sent to go to 



' Cf. Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of IS 12, pp. 257, 258.— Editor. 



372 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Maldon. The Gnl reqn[e]st[e[d me to with- 
draw which I did, for what purpos[e] the man 
was sent to go to Maldon I know not. Perhaps 
the Gnl kep[t] it a secret from him as he did 
from me — on the ar[r]ival of the army the 
firing ceased being disapproved by the Gnl as 
injuring private property. 

[ Monday, July the Sixth ] 

6 th The army remained at the spring Well till evening then 
marched to Detroit, through the town and returned to the 
Same encampment — This day a great number of Indians 
Came into Camp for the purpose of holding a Councill 
They all profess friendship. 2 Peac[e]s of artil[l]ery 
brought to the Camp this evening — The people in Canida 
in great Confusion at the Sight of our army. — 

[Entered on q Q ass went to Maldon with a flag of truce to 

the margin] ° 

dem[an]d the private property that was held [?] 

[ Tuesday, July the Seventh ] 

7 th The army remained at the encampment this day f> peaces 
of artil[l]ery was placed on the Bank Directed to Sand- 
wich under the Command of Lieutenant Dallaby. 1 This day 
the Indians held a Councell with Gnl Hull, the principle 
Chiefs of the Wyandots ottaways, Chippaways, Shawaneas 
Senekas Pottawattomi[e]s <fe Mohawkes were pres[e]nt they 
all profess fr[i]endship and request time to Consult among 
themselves and to return an answer a Beef was given them 
by the Genl. This night about 12 oclock an alarm origi- 
nated in Camp that the Ind[i]ans that was without the 



1 Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 373 

Camp had Collected a force and intended to attack the 
Camp— (Gnl Hull was in town) Gnl McArthur took the 
command ordered the men under armes and requested me to 
repair to MrKnag[g]s The Indian Interpreter about H[?] 
miles to request him to attend in the Camp. I went and 
returned with the interpreter; — inquiry was made — The 
alarm was found to be principally unfounded and the men 
allowed to retire to their tents — 
[Entered on q \ Cass returned accompanied by a British 

the margin] 

officer he was admit[t]ed by the Genl into our 
Camp, the property refused 

[ Wednesday, July the Eighth ] 

8 th the camp was thought to be in Danger of being bum- 
barded by Cannon from Sandwich the whole army was 
ordered to march a back way to Detroit When the army 
was about marching Crane the principle Wyandot Chief 
Came and remonstrated against the Conduct of the Gnl in 
taking 21 Indian Horses that belong to the S[i]oux Indians 
that was then at Maldon, (The horses was directed to be 
giv[e]n to the Wyandott Chiefs,) The Same Chief Said 
that they all intended to speak with the Same friendly 
vows and that the Wyandots all intended to use their 
influence to keep all other nations quiet, at this moment 
Gnl Hull heard that there was a party of the Kickapoo 
Indians on the river Raison Sent me out to See them and to 
assertain their number and intention. I started immediately 
and went to the river Raison it being 36 miles where I 
Stayed all night — 



374 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

[Thursday, July the Ninth] 

9 th this morning I went up the river to the Indian Camp I 
found there 28 Warriors without any Women or Children 
with them. They was of the Kickapoo nation and the Same 
fellows that was at the battle with Harrison Some of them 
show their wounds — They Said there was more of their 
nation coming — behind them. They was almost naked 
except Breechcloths and Blankets. They said they left 
their homes to go to Maldon, but on their being told of our 
army and that they would all be kil[l]ed if they did go 
they said they would not go to Maldon but would go to See 
the Gnl at Detroit The two principle Chiefs started in 
Company with me and a M r Thompson for Detroit, we 
travelled together to Brownstown where the Chiefs stop- 
[p]ed and said they would Come on the next day. M r 
Thompson and myself went on to Detroit, it being late in 
the night before we ar[r]ived, the Centinels was placed, 
and the officer of the G[u]ard Could not be found therefore 
we Could not git into town and had to lay out, we returned 
to M r Mays and lay in his poarch all night (The officer of 
the g[u]ard being of the Detroit Militia) 

[ Friday, July the Tenth ] 

10 this morning early I went to the Genl and made my 
report, he offered me the Command of a Small Company of 
Spies I observed to him that I would prefer some other 
station wherein if I Came into action I Could be of more 
Service in exercising my military talents, and that I would 
wish to be with Gnl McArthurs Regt he observed he would 
wish to accomodate me in anything I would wish and if 
there was any station in Gnl McArthurs Reg[i]ment wherein 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 375 

I Could be of use it would meet with his intire appro- 
bation] Gnl McArthur requested me to attend him in Case 
we Should be attack [ed] and assist him in Directing the 
maneuvres to which I consented I would. I found the 
army this day encamped on the Commons at Detroit. This 
night was pitched upon to Cross the river, and Considerable 
Confusion took place with the militia a number of th[e]m 
refused to Cross the river — Those that refused to Cross was 
Considered by the army as Cowards. The army was almost 
prepared to march when by accident, Major Munson 1 was 
badly wounded, and the Camp thrown into confusion. The 
Gnl pos[t]poned the march till the next day — 

[ Saturday, July the Eleventh ] 

II This day Cappt Cunninghams and Capt Rupes Com- 
panys refused to Cross the river, but after Some Statement 
made by the Colo Cunninghams Company agreed to go 
Rupe and his Company through obstinacy refused to march. 
The Genl demanded a list of the names of those that 
refused to Cross the river Capt Rupe returned his whole 
Company — The adjutan[t] rashly abused the whole Coni- 
pa[n]y as Cowards Traitors &c and made a return of them 
to the Gnl under the head of a list of Cowards under the 
name of militia, unfortunately attached to Colo McAr- 
thur['s] Reg[i]ment, and then ar[r]ested Captain Rupe — 
for ungentlemanly and unofficer like Conduct — This night 
Colo McArthur['s] Regiment was ordered to march down 
the River to dicoy the British, they marched down the 
river about three miles halted a few hours and silently 



1 One of the two Majors of the 3d Regiment of Ohio Volunteers under the com- 
mand of Colonel Cass. — Editor. 



370 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

returned, taking boats down by water at the Same time, — 
The project had the desired effect the British Supposed we 
intended Crossing below Sandwich and they drew all the 
forces they had down towards Maldon — When the Regi- 
ment started B Rankin James Cochran Daniel [ ] J 

and John Lafarge fell in Capt Lucass Company and marched 
with him Supposing the army intended cross[in]g 

[ Sunday, July the Twelfth ] 

1 2 This morning by daylight the Crafts was all moved up 
the river to the foot of Hog Island the army all marched up 
to that place Ensign McDougal and about 15 of Capt Rupes 
Company followed and Crossed with the Regiment by 
which they gained considerable However the names was 
all returned to the Gnl and received — 
Colo Cass and the 4 th regular Regmt was to cross first I 
could not endure to be behind I asked permission of Colo 
Cass and crossed with him and was among the first that 
landed in Can [a] da. We made our landing good and 
formed an encampm[e]nt opposite Detroit and raised the 
American flag without there even being a gun fired at us, — 
a party of the regulars went down as low as Sandwich and 
procured some flour wheat etc. out of a mill, — The inhabi- 
tants all fled in Different Directions from us. The Gnl 
immediately circulated his proclamation which gave great 
satisfaction to the inhabitants and Caused many of them to 
return and apply for protect[i]on — The inhabitants here 
are generally ignorant french people — The encampment 
is formed at the farm of Colo Bawbie 2 a British Colo, it 



1 This name is not legible. — Editor. 

! Colonel Francis Babie. — See Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 
1812, p. 202.— Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL ;) 7 7 

affords us fair pasture for horses, and his hous[e] good 
quarters for the Genl, which is occupied by him as such 

[ Monday, July the Thirteenth ] 

13 I went in Company with Capt Ullerys Company and 
part of Rupes Compa[n]y down towards Maiden about 
9 miles we found the bridge at turk[e]y Creek brok[e]n by 
the British and Saw the Signs where about 200 men [had] 
lay in ambush the night before watching the Bridge that they 
had broken laying in a posit [io]n that they Could [have] 
intirely Surrounded a small party had they attempted to 
Cross the bridge in the night. We was informed by a man 
that lived at the Bridge that there was a great many Indians 
Close about there and insisted upon us returning assuring us 
that it was Dangerous for us to be So far from Camp with 
So small a party of men — we thought it prudent to return, 
— we was half way from our Camp to Maldon and had but 
about 40 men in all, on our return we Saw a fine mare and 
Horse that the inhabitants said belonged to Colo Bawbie 
and Capt Magrige [?] two British officers we was requested 
to bring them to the Gnl which we did, he Received them 
as Enemies property and gave them in charge of the Quar- 
termaster Gnl to be disposed of as such — We on our return 
made a report to the Gnl of what we had seen and done, — 
this night there was an alarm in Camp that the Indians and 
British was near with an intention of attacking us the army 
was put in readiness, the Gnl Sent for me and requested me 
to attend to the Padrolls and Picket g[u]ards, — The alarm 
was fals[e] and little was required to be done, — and my 
being fateegued by traveling the day before after I found 



378 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

there was no danger I retired to my tent, and went to 
Sleep on the ground — (all was well next morning) 

[ Tuesday, July the Fourteenth ] 

14 th I remained in Camp the men was engaged in throwing 
up a breastwork round the Camp this night Gnl McArthur 
with a party of his Reg[i]ment started to the river La 
Trench 1 to take possession of Som[e] public property I did 
not know of the intention of their going so far, or I would 
went with them 

[ Wednesday, July the Fifteenth ] 

15 a number of Deserters from Maldon is daily Coming 
into Camp and obtaining protection — all appears to be 
admitted that appli[e]s, Some of whome I presume Comes 
only as spi[e]s from maldon into our Camp and gets pro- 
tection and returns with the news to maldon. The inhabi- 
tants are generally returning to their homes, — this is a 
beautifull countary, fine orchards Meadows, and excel! [e]nt 
Crops of wheat which I pres[u]me must go to loss for want 
of Cut[t]ing as the men are general[l]y impressed and 
driven to Maiden, — this night we remained quiet without 
an alarm 

[ Thursday, July the Sixteenth] 

16 this day Colo Cass and Colo Miller obtained permission 
to take a Detachment of men for the purpose of obtaining 
possession of the Bridge at the River Canard 2 within 5 miles 

1 The River Thames, a river of Ontario flowing southwestward into Lake St. 
Clair. — Editor. 

s The River Aux Canards, flowing westward and emptying into the Detroit 
River opposite Grosse Isle a few miles above Maiden. This river was called by 
the Wyandots the Ta-ron-tee, and Colonel Cass because of his capture of the bridge 
on this day was frequently referred to as the "Hero of Ta-ron-tee." — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 379 

of Maiden. The Bridge we had been informed was broken 
and occupied by a British fourc on the opposite side. 
The Detachment consisted of Capt Snellings compa[n]y of 
regulars Capt Reynolds Compa[n]y of vol[u]nteers Capt 
Spencers Capt Burslers Capt Barrens and Capt Ullery and 
Capt Robinsons Companys of Riflemen — in all about 200 
men, — I was permitted to accompany them as a volunteer 
myself William Stockton and Samuel Herd of the party of 
Rangers went in front of the advanced g[u]ard, we marched 
on within 2 or 3 miles of the bridge when we was informed 
by some of Cavalary that the Bridge was guarded by a Brit- 
ish force and Some Indians, also that they had artillery at 
the Bridge a Sergeant and 12 of Capt Robinsons men was 
recpiested to go in front with me as the advanced g[u]ard 
together with the two rangers that had accompanied me, and 
took a rout[e] to Cross the River and Come in upon the 
Back of the enemy the Balance of Capt Robinsons Coni- 
pa[n]y was ordered to advance along the road in sight 
of the Bridge to keep the enemy in check they advanced 
and wounded and took two of the British Soldiers that had 
been posted across the river as Centinels — the balance of 
the army went up the river with me (except a few Dragoons 
and a part of the rangers under Capt McCollough and a few 
other men who Stayed on the Side of the Creek to annoy 
the en[e]my) — We assended the river about 5 or miles 
(piloted by two frenchmen that we made go with us) crossed 
the river (myself W m Stockton and Saml Herd being the first 
ther[e] and advanced on a rise and kept a look out while 
the others crossed) we De[s]cended on the opposite side 
through a tremendous thicket of Bushes and Prickly ash 



380 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

swamps till we came in Sight of the Bridge. The advanced 
g[u]ard having intirely skirted the praari and Got some dis- 
tance] in front halted, in Some woods by the edge of a 
praari) Colo Cass and Miller by Some means marched into 
the praary in Sight of the Bridge by which means the 
enemy got Sight of the army, at this time -about 50 
Indian [s] lay within gun Shot of the advanced g[u]ard, 
Commanded as we have be[e]n informed by Elliot McKee 1 
and Tecumseh which had we proceeded immediately on 
might have surrounded them but on their getting Sight of 
the army they raised the yell and jumped and ran with- 
out even firing a gun at us — The advanced g[u]ard could 
have Shot Some of them had they not had orders from Colo 
Cass not to Shoot in case they Saw anything but to immedi- 
ately inform him. The army under Colo Cass had to turn 
up a Creek Some distanc[e] before they Could Cross — and 
when they Crossed they all rushed into the Praari in Sight 
of the enemy at a half mile or f of a miles distanc[e], and 
halted, the Sight of our own men across the Bridge Con- 
fused them Considerably they Supposed them to be the 
army the whole Stood in this Confused state for perhaps 20 
minutes, I was at the time quite in the front on the right 
wing (I never was more vexed in my life to See men and 
officers in Such Confusion) The Riflemen was ord[e]red all 
to take the left flank a [d] join [in] g the woods and to form 
in line they advanced with great Courage but in bad order. 



1 Mathew Elliott and Andrew McKee, both natives of Pennsylvania, were 
malignant Tories during the Revolutionary War and had since been prominent 
in the service of the British in stirring up the Indian tribes against the Ameri- 
cans. The renegade Simon Girty was associated with them. — See Lossing's 
Pictorial Field-Book of the War of ISIS, pp. 45,46.— Editoe. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 381 

1 endeavored all in my power to keep th[e]m in order but 
in vain (Some of the men Called upon me to take the Com- 
mand to which I replied that I Could not take the Com- 
mand from their officers as their own offi[ce]rs was present. 
The Infantry halted and formed in ord[e]r. T[he] Rifle- 
men rushed on perhaps 100 yards in front, a firing Com- 
menced by our men across the Creek, and was returned by 
the British and Commanded our men when 300 yards Dis- 
tan[t] a party of Riflemen was directed to take the woods, 
they appeared Backward Supposing a body of Indians lay 

therein, But Capt [ j 1 myself and Denton Scott (a 

gentleman who had went with us as a volunteer) rushed into 
the woods and was followed bravely by Capt Ullerys Com- 
pa[n]y and part of Capt Rob [in] sons we ran through the 
point of woods to where the British and Indians had been 
encamped, by this time our troops that was across the 
riv[e]r Joined us, we fired upon them from the woods, 
being about 200 yards distan[t] being the nearest we could 
get to them, they retreated in Such hast[e] that we Could 
not Come up with them, by this time it began to get dark 
in the evening, we returned not having one man injured, we 
left a guard at the Bridge and returned about 1 or 2 miles to 
Some houses and Barnes and encamped — The Brittish had 

2 small field peaces at the Bridge and when they Saw our 
advanced g[u]ard Sent them of[f]. — They was so Skittish 
that had we Conducted properly and Came in behind them 
we might have kil[l]ed or taken them all prisoners — there 
was 150 British Troops in Unifo[r]m and about 50 In- 
dia[n]s — had they know[n] our force and acted with 

1 The surname is omitted in the original manuscript. — Editor. 



382 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Courage they might have beat us — This night an alarm 
went to Camp that there was firing heard and that the 
Bridge had been attacked a Second time. The Genl. Sent 
on to our assistance] the whole of the 4 th Rgt of Regulars 
and a peac[e] of artillery under the Command of Lieuten- 
[a]nt Eastman with order [s] for us to return to Camp, 
wher[e] the ar[m]y all was quiet we had kep[t] the bridge 
peaceably all night — 

[ Entered on Tin S day Capt Brown of the regulars went to 

the margin J •> L ~ 

Maldon with a flag of truce the purport of which 
is not known to me he was fired upon as he 
returned The troops all acted with good Cour- 
age but not good Conduct the fault is generally 
in the officers 

[ Friday, July the Seventeenth ] 

17 This morning the reinf orcein [en] t from the 4 th Rgt and 
artill[er]y having ar[r]ived a Horseman returned from the 
Bridge stating that the whole British army was a coming on 
hearing of which Colo Cass myself Capt McCollough and 
Several others immediately repaired to the Bridge and 
Crossed over a few Riflemen was Directed to scour the edge 
of the woods Colo Cass advanced himself to where the Brit- 
ish had retreated from the evening before Capt McCol- 
loug[h] and myself went about 2 miles down the road 
toward Maldon before we Saw any person, we then stop- 
[p]ed and viewed two boats in the river loaded with men, 
which appeared to be assending the river — while we was 
thus viewing 2 British hors[e]men hove in Sight as Soon as 
they Saw^ us they wheeled and returned in full sjjeed, the 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 383 

Back one of th[e]ni raised a white flag and the other a red 
one the one with a red flag tacked about and de[s]cended 
toward Maldon. We then returned to the Bridge the 
officers then met and held a Councill and all insisted upon 
evacuating the Bridge except Colo Cass and Capt Snelling, 
who insisted upon maintaining the post as an important 
one as it was the only obstruction in the way from where 
the army was encamped to Maldon, — They being over- 
powered the Bridge was abandoned and the Detachment 
returned to Camp without leaving a g[u]ard to keep the 
post we had So easily gained. When we returned to Camp 
we met Colo McArth[u]rs Detachment just arrived from 
the River La trenc 1 with Considerable public Stor[e]s, — I 
was now informed that the Sentenc[e] of the Court martial 
that I left Sit[t]ing on the trial of Capt Rupe was that he 
should be Cashi[e]red and not permitted to bare arms as an 
officer in Defence of the United States — (This was a bad 
manner to fateegue men to take the Bridge and give it up as 
we fo[u]nd it. [)] This night a report Came to Camp that 
the Queen Sharlotte a British armed vessel was Coming up 
the river Demolishing the houses as she Came and that the 
British had taken possession of the Bridge and was impress- 
ing and plunder[in]g the inhabitants — Colo Finley took 
the Command of a detachm[en]t and repaired towards the 
Bridge he went within two miles Saw the Ship lay in the 
Riv[e]r below, and with[i]n Carry of the Bridge detached 
a small party to the Bridge found that the British had come 
and Cut away the sil[l]s and erected a breastwork of tim- 
ber on the opposite side 

1 The River Thames. — Editor. 



384 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 
[Entered on One of the British Soldi Tel rs that was wounded 

the margin ] L J 

was brought up a prisoner with us, the oth[e]r 
considered mortally wounded, was left, he died 
the same day the Indians Came and scalped him 
and sold his scalp to the British a good trick for 
an indian to make the British Gov. pay for their 
own Soldiers Scalps. 

[ Saturday, July the Eighteenth] 

18 Colo Finley returned with his Detaehm[e]nt and made 
report as above stated, I remained in Camp this day and 
little was done. French Deserters Continually Coming in 
from Maldon and get[t]ing protection — This evening Capt 
Snelling Capt Mansfield and part of Cap? Sloans troop of 
Horse went on padroll to the Bridge 

[ Sunday, July the Nineteenth ] 

19 th This clay Colo McArthur and a Detachment from his 
Regiment of about 200 men was ordered down to the 
Bridge to view the Situation] but restricted So as not 
to go with[i]n reach of the guns of Queen Sharlot[te]. 
They repaired immediately to the Bridge being about 14 
miles from the Camp Capt McCullough Colo McDonald 
and Several of the rangers and myself went on in front, we 
found Capts Snelling Mansfield and part of the Dragoons 
within a mile of the Bridge in a lane, in full view of the 
Queen Shaiiot[te] myself and Several of the rangers went 
do[w]u within about 200 yards of the Bridge I was sit- 
ting on a gray Horse (that I had got to ride from the 
Quarter Master Gnl mine being worn do[w]n) Viewing 
the vessle very attentively when I Received a Shot from a 
Swivel on board a gun boat, that had not been discovered 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 385 

by us, the Shot was Directed at me and the ball struck the 
ground about 30 or 40 feet before me, (I heard the nois[e] 
of the ball before I heard the report) we returned to where 
the troops were; the boat immediate [ly] rowed up stream 
with all speed to head us and fired a Second shot at us the 
ball passed over our heads. I informed Capt Snelling he 
inquired if we had artillery coming on I informed him we 
had not he observed that we could not maintain that post 
without artillery he dispa[t]ched his men through the grass 
near the bank of the riv[e]r, I passed up the lane and 
hitched my Horse and returned as I returned, I passed by 
Several Hors[e]men standing in the lane, when a Shot was 
Directed at them the Ball passed over them Capt Snellings 
men rose from the grass and fired upon th[e]m the boat 
returned in great hast[e] whether any person was injured 
on board or not is unknown — at this time Colo McAr- 
th[u]rs Detachment ar[r]ived, Capt Snell[i]ngs & Mans- 
field Compa[n]ys and Dragoons returned, Colo McArthur 
Adjt Puthuff and a number of the Riflemen went withi[n] 
Shot of the British troops at the Bridge a number of Shots 
was exchanged on both sides no injury was done to us 
we Supposed several of the British and Indians were killed 
or wounded as Several was seen to fall at the report of 
the guns, (I took four fair shots myself but do not know 
whether I injured any person or not) James Cochran of 
Capt Rup[e]s Comp[an]y who left the Company at Detroit 
and Came over and Joined Capt Lucas Compa[n]y behaved 
bravely he got down behind a log and lay and Shot all his 
ammunition away at them, one man was Seen to fall at one 
of his Shots after he had Shot his ammunition away he 



386 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

blackg[u]arded them and Cursed them for Cowards and 
dared them to Come over the Riv[e]r, We fired at them in 
this way for amusement till we was tired and retired to the 
army about a mile back. In the afternoon Colo McAr- 
th[u]r and his adjut[a]nt Surgeon went down to where we 
had been before to take a view of them before we re- 
turned] when they was fired upon by Some Indians that 
had Crossed the River at the Bridge and lay in the grass 
and Bushes the troops was enraged at their Colo being fired 
upon, they all rushed forward. Capt Lucas Company 
nearly all being present, Capt Lucas was directed to com- 
mand the right wing and Capt Pinney the left they rushed 
on drove the Indians which was about 40 or 50 in number 
across the river and exchanged Several fires with the Brit- 
ish and Indians across the river. I at this time was on 
hors[e]back on the right wing assisting to keep the troops 
in order. I Saw the Indians flank off from the Breastwork 
at the Bridge and Crall through the grass Some of them 
got tolerably close to our men — Our order was such that 
we Could not keep the bridge if we took it. we was 
ordered to returned, and when we returned the Indians 
Crossed the river again and fired upon us we halted faced 
about and fired upon them Several times. Two of our men 
was wounded, a ]\I r Mellon of Capt Fryatts Compa[n]y and 
a M r "Williams of Capt Cunni[n]ghams Company, but 
neith[er] mortally, (Several Indians took Sight at me for 
Several Shots as I was on a gray IIors[e] and the only one 
that was on Hors[e]back on the right wing — The balls 
whisseled merrily, but none touched me, in the heat of 
firing. I was diverted to See Some of the boys Dodge at 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 387 

the whistelino; of the balk — we returned two or three miles 
and met Colo Cass and his Rgt and a peac[e] of artillery 
he insisted upon going back to give them a fire with this 
Cannon, notwithstanding the orders of the Gnl was not to 
Cross the Bridge, during the firing Several Shots from Queen 
Sharl[ot]te and the gun boat was fired at us but none 
had effect, Colo McArth[u]r at the request of Colo Cass 
returned and encamped in the houses and Barns within 
a few miles of Bridge the Boys all acted with great courage, 
one of Capt Lucases Comp[au]y by the name of McGill got 
his gun choaked in the heat of the action and at a time 
when we expected to be met by an equal or Superior 
fourc[e], he deliberately took the Barrel out of the stock on 
Bricked his gun Drove out the load, Bricked ker put ker in 
order and loaded and Skot five rounds afterwards during 
tke Contest, it is an astonsking tking to me tkat no more 
of our men was wounded altko[ugk] we was at a consider- 
able distanc[e] the balls generally went over our heads, we 
understand that Several of the British have been kil[l]ed 
and wounded — 
[Entered on (j \ M' Arthur had his horse wounded in the 

the margin ] 

forehead It is truly distressing this evening to 
see "Women and Children run[n]ing for their 
houses thos[e] in favor of the Britis[h] for fear 
of us those in favor of us for fear of the British 
Those whose fortunes it is to reside at the seat 
of war must experience] trouble — 

[ Monday, July the Twentieth ] 

20 th The Colonels Cass McArth[u]r myself and Several 
others went to view the situation of the British troops 



388 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

at the Bridge we Saw that they had artillery at the Bridge, 
Colo Me Arthur was oppos[e]d to £ateegui[ii]g the men in 
bringing them up to action against artillery when they had 
not an equal Chane[e], but Colo Cass and Major Trimble 
insisted upon giving them a shot, accordingly the two regi- 
ments marched down Colo McArthur requested me to take 
two Rifle Companys and flank to a Point of wood that they 
Sup[p]osed the Indians would make to in order to Come 
upon the[i]r flank I did so. I advanced to the woods 
Sco[u]red them found there was no Indians in them and 
posted myself in the edge (if the wood as I had been 
directed to watch the movem[en]t of the Indians, while I 
was Sco[u]ring the woods I heard Shot from Cannon and I 
Saw them retreating they advanced and Shot three Shots 
from a Six pounder at the British and received Several 
Shots from Swivels and nine pounders from the British, 
they retired without a man being hurt after the army had 
retreated I was directed to retreat also which I did and 
overtook the army in about 4 miles had the en[e]my 
immediately rushed in after the army retreated they might 
have Cut of[f] my retreat as the officers did not let me 
know that the army had gone till they had got Some dis- 
tance. We all returned to Camp in Safety, but much 
fateeguied and very Hungary being nearly two days with- 
out much to eat — There appears to be a mistery in these 
proceedings, if the bridge was wo[r]th contending for, why 
did we not keep it when we had it, if it is not an object why 
fateegue troops in Sending them to it 15 m[i]l[e]s from 
camp. I fear that these proceed [i]ngs will prove injurious 

to us 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 389 

[ Tuesday, July the Twenty-first ] 

21' I Remained in Camp there was no alarm. The general 
returned to Detroit, and Several Companies of the regular 
Regiment Colo McArth[u]r acts as Commandant he directs 
the rangers to start to morrow morning to explore the Rack 
Countary and search for a road a Rack way to fort Maldon 
— The army get[t]ing Sick Considerably, and I fear that 
they will Suffer the ensu[i]ng Season — The artificer is 
engage [d] in making pike Irons and mounti[n]g artillery, 
the Ship Carpenter [s] are engaged at Detroit in riggin[g] 
the Rrig Adamfs] 1 Calculated to Car[r]y 16 guns 

[ Wednesday, July the Twenty-second ] 

22 d Crossed over to Detroit and Received orders from Colo 
Miller of Ohio to repair to Chillicothe 2 immediately to 
attend to the recruiting Serv[i]ce <fcc, in Consequence of 
which orde[r]s I have this day been deprived of going with 
the rangers to explore the back road to Maldon, — this day 
there has been an alarm in Camp that there was Indians 
Seen a few miles below Camp a party of men went out but 
made no discoverys. The army remained quiet 

[ Thursday, July the Twenty-third ] 

23 This morning Capt McCollough and the rangers re- 
turned, they had explored as far as the River Canar 3 They 
saw a great many Indian signs they did not Cross the 
Riv[e]r, as they heard Considerable Shooting on the oppo- 
site side of the River, they say a good road Cannot be had 



1 This vessel, taken by the British when Detroit was surrendered, was after- 
wards used in the British service under the name of the "Detroit." — Editor. 
8 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. 
8 The River Aux Canards. — Editor. 



390 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

back they went down the River in Sight of the Bridge they 
Saw a number of British and Indians there they appeared 
to be engaged with repairing the Bridge or or erecting 
a Battery, — a party of Indians discovered them and tried to 
Surround them, they Saw the Indians and made their 
escape, — report said that 50 Indians was on yesterday Sev- 
eral miles above the bridge in Compa[n]y with a merchant 
from Sandwich — also that the proph[e]t 1 had ar[r]ived at 
Maldon with a reinforcement of Indians (Why does the 
army dally, why do they not make the Stroke on Maldon 
at once, had proper energy been used, we might have been 
in Maldon now, we are tampering with them untill they will 
be able to drive us back across the river, — or at least I fear 
that will be the Case if there is not an alteration in the pro- 
ceedings if it is not, it must be owing to the Defect in 
the British Commander) Our conduct has at least incour- 
aged them much and increased the number of our enemies; 
— had the Bridge been kept when we had it, untdl the 
whole army was prepared to march all would have been 
well — 

[ Friday, July the Twenty -fourth ] 

24 Major Denny with a Detachment of about 150 men 
under the Command of Capt Lucas Pinny and Rose accom- 
panied by Capt McCullock H Fowler Stockt[o]n W m 
Denny Avery Powers of the Rangers, Started down to the 
Bridge for the purpose of Waylaying and Cut[t]ing of [f] 
a Detachment of Indians that was reported to [be] ranging 
in the woods, in that quarter they marched down in the 

1 The Prophet, so called because of his reputed prophetic powers, was a brother 
of the Shawnee warrior, Tecurnseh, and was associated with him in organizing 
the Indians into a confederation hostile to the Americans. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 391 

evening within sight of the British encampment at the 
Bridge, and lay concealed in a wheat field all night, without 
inter [r] uption, — 

[ Saturday, July the Twenty-fifth ] 

25 This morning W m Stockton being onwell returned to 
the Camp, a Short time after Avery powers being like 
onwell left the detachment and returned as far as turk[e]y 
Creek when he was fired upon by a party of Indians and 
killed Several balls was Shot through his body he was 
tomahawk [e]d but not Scalped. The Indians it appears 
from information of the inhabitants was brought up to that 
place by a Certain french Capta[i]n Bonty, by water for 
the purpose of waylaying the detachment that was down 
with Major Denny. Major Denny it appears made Consid- 
erable ranges through the Countary, fell in with Capt 
Bonty who pertended to be going to reap his harves[t], he 
was interrogated and found to be an officer in the British 
Servic[e] and was taken prisoner, — and Sent on to Camp 
under the Care of Ensign Baird and a small detachm[e]nt 
of men, — after the prisoner had been Sent the Detachment 
under the Command of Major Denny took a Circuitous 
rout[e], through the woods and being much fateeguied 
halted in a grove of woods to rest, the troops generally fell 
a Sleep, and was reposing in this position when a detach- 
ment of Indians was Seen near them, they arose and fired 
upon the Indians, killed Several and got the musket that 
was taken from Avery powers in the morning, the Indians 
was pursued until they was reinfor[ce]d part of the detach - 
m[e]nt under Maj[o]r Den[n]y retreated in Disorder with- 
out making any defence The Major found himself likely to 



392 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

be outflanked by the enemy ordered a retreat, they were 
pursued by the Indians and a party of British for Several 
miles, to turk[e]y creek Bridge. They lost Six men this 
day in all Killed and taken prisoners, — an express came 
into Camp with an acco[u]nt of the Death of Avery Pow- 
ers I immediately on hearing the news started with a part 
of Capt Robinsons Rifle Company to reinforce Major Denny 
and to bring in the Dead. I rushed on in hast[e], and met 
the Major at turk[e]y creek the plac[e] where Avery Pow- 
ers lay. I proposed going back to meet the Indians, but 
the men with Major Denny being much fateegued and Con- 
sider [in] g our fource not Sufficient the proposition was not 
agreed to we accordingly returned to Camp and took the 
body of Avery powers a very brave man with us. Capt 
McCollock this day killed and Scalped an Indian it being 
the only Scalp that was taken, altho[ugh] Several indians 
was Seen killed, Major Denny attaches great credit [to] the. 
detaehm[en]t under the Command of Capt Lucas and Lieut 
Mur[p]hy[?], and a part of Capt Rupes Company— 

[Sunday, July the Twenty -sixth] 

26 This morning we inter [r]ed our mes[s]mate, Avery 
powers with the honours of warr — there was a vessel Seen 
Coming down the River with British Coulors she was fired 
upon and brought to She proved to be one of the american 
vessles that had be[e]n taken at Michil[l]imac[k]a- 
nac[k] 1 and had been Cartailed as private property she. 



1 The fortress of Miohillimackinack, more commonly shortened to Mackinack 
or Mackinaw, on the northernmost point of the peninsula of Michigan, was, 
on July 17, 1812, captured by the British, the American commander having re- 
ceived no notice of the declaration of war. — See Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of 
the War of IS 12, p. 270.— Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 393 

had on board Som[e] of the prisoners that was taken when 
the garrison at Miohil[l]imackin[ack] was taken, she was 
ordered under our Battery and there to remain — 

[Monday, July the Twenty -seventh, to Monday, August the Third] 

from the -27 th to the 3rd of August the nothing of Conse- 
quence was clone, there was a fort ordered to be built at 
Gowris 1 about a half mile below the Camp, I had prepared 
to return to Chillicothe agreeably to orders but by the inter- 
fere] nee of the Colonels and the Gnl I consented to remain 
with the army, and again attached myself to the rangers, 
we were frequently engaged in reconnoitering the Countary 
around the Camp and of nights laying out watching for the 
en[e]my, during the above periods an express ar[r]ived 
from Chillicothe informing us that Capt Brush was a Com- 
ing with a volunteer Compa[n]y to join us and had with 
him a quantity of provisions, knowing the Communication 
was Cut of [f] and that if he attempted to pass Brownstown 
he would be attacked by the British and Indians Colos 
McArthur and Cass Solisited the Genl to let them go with 
a Detachment of men to meet him, and thereby Secure him 
and the provision their requests were repeatedly refused, 
and Considerable dissatisfaction prevailed in Camp in Con- 
sequence] thereof 

[Entered on charmer the above periods Gnl Hull requested of 

the margin ] 

me and Capt Knaggs to attempt to take Tecum- 
seh the Indian ch[i]ef he recommended us to 
disguise ourselves and to go among the Indians 
at Maldon. I was willing to do anything I was 



] See Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1S12, p. 277. — Editor. 



394 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

ordered but not to act foolis[h]ly, had we made 
the attempt agreeable to his plan we would been 
both take[n], instead of taking Tecumseh, per- 
haps that was his wish — 

[Tuesday, August the Fourth] 

4 th August — having been informed that a party of British 
and Indians had Crossed turk[e]y Creek and that two 
British officers had advanced within 4 miles of our Camp, 
Capt McCollock W m Stockton Edward fowler Montgomery 
McCull and myself went in Search of them we proceeded as 
far as turk[e]y creek we ascertained that there had been a 
party of the British and Indians there the day before and 
had driven of[f] a quantity of the inhabitants Cattle and 
were expected there again that day, we went as far as was 
thought pruden[t] and took a cross the Countary for Sev- 
[e]ral miles back, we Saw Sev[e]ral British or Indians 
riding at a distance from us but on seeing us they made 
of[f] from us we returned to Camp and reported accord- 
ingly — on our return we was informed that the Gnl had 
Consented to Send a Detachment of about 150 men under 
the Command of Major Van home 1 to escort the male and 
to join Capt Brush at the river raisin, Capt McCollock 
applied to the Gnl for liberty to accompany them with the 
rangers. The Gnl refused to let them all go, but granted 
him liberty to take half there being but Six fit for duty, he 
Selected W m Stockton and Edward fowler to accompa[n]y 
him in Consert with myself the detachment having marched 
we four Crossed the riv[e]r in the evening and proceeded 



1 Thomas B. Van Home was one of the Majors of the 2d Regiment of Ohio 
Volunteers under command of Colonel Findlay. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 395 

on after them and overtook them at the riv[e]r Rush 1 the 
whole proceeded on after night to the Riv[e]r Sacroix, 2 
where we lay in the Bushes all night, McCollough Fowler 
Stockton and myself lay toge[t]her on the left flank the 
remainde[r] of the night — 

[Wednesday, August the Fifth] 

5 th We arose at Day brake and got our horses and took a 
rout[e] around the Detachment, we assertain[e]d by the 
tracks in the road and trails in the grass that there had 
been a pa[r]ty of Indians watching us dur[i]ng the night, 
it was a beautiful clear morning, we advanced to the riv[e]r 
and heard the Sound of oars of boats rowing — but at Such 
a distant- [e] that they could not be Seen for a fog that rose 
a few feet above the water, — The Detachment prepared and 
we proceeded on the march Capt McCollock and myself 
advanced in front for Some distance frequently turning 
across to the river to See if there was not men crossing 
from Canada, we passed through the Indian village of 
Maguawga and found the villag[e] intirely evacuated (the 
Indians that resided at maguawga had always express [e]d 
the most extr[e]m[e] friendship for the Americans) we 
open[e]d Several houses and found that all the property 
had been removed, we proceeded on with great care to a 
place known by the name of the Big-Appletree Capt 
McColloch and myself was then together, the Capt alighted 
from his horse; and I proceeded on, the roads forked one 
round the right of an Indian Cornfield and the other on the 
left. I took the right hand road and was accompanied by 



1 Probably the River Rouge. — Editor. 

* Probably the River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 



396 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Capt Barran who was the[n] on W m Stocktons Horse Ave 
proceeded on with care and had passed the Cornfield leaving 
the field between us and the river, unfortunately for Capt 
McColloch he took the left hand road round the field he 
was accompanied by a Black man waiter to major Van 
home, they was fired upon by 12 or 14 Indians, as Soon as 
we heard the report of the guns I exclaim [ed] that McCol- 
loch was fired upon and requested the men in front to form 
a line across to the riv[e]r and to ad vane [e] to the place 
where the fire was being about 150 yards in the rear of us 
and between the main body and the river, we don[e] so in 
front and had the rear performed the Same maneuvor we 
might have killed all the Indian[s], the rear g[u]ard at the 
fire was thrown into Confusion, the Indi[a]ns scalped and 
torn [a] hawked McCollo[c]h ran across the Cornfield fired 
upon the rear g[u]ard and made the[i]r escape without 
being hurt, we brough[t] in McColloch and the other man, 
McColloch was shot one ball through his body two through 
his breast and one through his thigh. I Carried him and 
put him in a hous[eJ, laid him on a plank and Covered 
him with Bark being the best I Could do at that time, this 
transactio[n] took place about an hour by Sun in the morn- 
ing, and while we was bringing in the Dead we was over- 
taken by a part of the Cavalry from Detroit and Several 
gentlemen armed that wished to pass through to the river 
raisin, we was here informed by a frenchman that there was 
a body of three or four hundred Indians and Some British 
waylaying us at brownstown, we had been So much accus- 
tom [e]d to the fals[e] Statements of the french that we 
paid no attention to the report but proceeded on, our De- 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 397 

tachm[e]nt was formed in the following ord[e]r three of 
the Cavarly in front of each Colum[n] of the front 
g[u]ard the front G[u]ard Consisted of about 24 men in 
two colum[n]s, from Capt Robinsons Rifle Compa[n]y the 
right Commanded by Ensign Roby and the left by a Ser- 
geant of Said Company, the detachment marched in two 
lines or colum[n]s, as follows, Capt Rupe in front, Capt 
Robinsons, and Capt Spencers Rifle Compan[ie]s formed 
the right Colum[n], Capt Barren in front Capt Ull[e]ry 
and Capt Gilchrean 1 formed the left colum[u], and Capt 
Boerstlers Compa[n]y formed the rear guard, the two Col- 
um[n]s marched where the ground would admit about 100 
yards apart, the mail and the hors[e]men that escorted the 
mail was between the Colum[n]s, a part of the Cavalry was in 
the rear with the rear g[u]ard, thus formed Major Vanhorne 
recpaested me to assist him in Communicating orders to the 
lines which I Consented I would, we marched on in this 
order for four or five miles, till we approach [ed] near 
Brownstown into a defile through which we had to pass, as 
we approached the defile I rode along the the right colum[n] 
and requested of the men to see that their guns were fresh 
primed assur[i]ng them that their Safety depended on on 
their arms and their Valur and pointing out the place told 
them that if we met an enemy at all that day that it would 
be there, the road here passes through a narrow parari Sur- 
rounded on the right by a Mirey Creeck which Cannot be 
crossed but at the one place for Some distan[ce] up and on 
the opposite Side Covered with thick Bushes, on the left 



1 This officer was evidently Captain Robert Gilchrist, who was killed in the 
battle that followed. — Editor. 



398 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

flank was a n[u]mb[e]r of small Indian Cornfields and 
thickets of Bushes, the indians lay in the Bushes on the 
opposite Side of the Creek from us immediately on the 
bank in our front and right flank and in the Cornfields on 
the left flank, the flank had to close at this place in ord[e]r 
to Cross the Creek within 40 or 50 yards of each other, as 
Soon as 1 had Cautioned the right flank I rode up in front 
betwe[e]n the lines to Major Vanhorn[e], in compa[ny] 
with W m Stockton the hors[e]men on the flanks was just 
entering the Creek and myself Major Vanhorn[e] and W m 
Stockton was of a breast in front between the lines, and 
had advanced within 25 or 30 yards of the Indians when we 
was fired upon, the first fire appeared to be principally 
directed at us that was a hors[e]back. My Horse and Wm 
Stocktons was shot mine wheeled and gave a fierce lunge 
and pi[t]ched against a horse that had his fore leg broke 
and pi[t]ched me of[f] in the fall my gun flew out of my 
hand I raised and looked round for my gun but not Seeing 
it, and Seeing the Indians rushing out of the Bushes in 
front and a heavy fire from them at me on the left I ran 
into the ranks of Capt Barrens Compa[n]y without my gun 
and requested them to form and fire upon the Indians which 
they did at the first fire M r Fowler and Sev[e]ral other[s] 
was kil[l]ed, the fire Soon was gen[e]ral on both Sides, 
and finding ourselves overpowered and likely to be Sur- 
rounded the major ordered a retreat, we retreated in as 
good order as we possibly could from our situation, halting 
and firing upon the en[e]my where occation would admit, 
altho[ugh] Some retreated in a Dastardly manner never 
firing upon the en[e]my at all, but yet the precipitait retreat 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 399 

answered in a good as it prevented the Indians and British 
that was detached for that purpose from Cut[t]iug of[f] 
our retreat — The Indians followed us about three miles, 
we retreated to the Riv[e]r Sacroix 1 and got a cano[e] and 
Sent the wounded up to detroit by water, in this act[io]n 
we lost 17 men Killed and Sev[e]ral Wounded among the 
killed were Capt[a]ins McColloch Ullery Gilchrane and 
Boerstler who was mortally wounded and died of his wound 
at Detroit, Lieutenant Pentz and Ensign Roby, and Allison 
all valuable officers, 2 on our return to detroit we met a 
strong reinforcement Coming to us but it was too late to 
render us any ser[v]ice and they returned and Crossed to 
the Camp at Sandwich, there was a number of our men that 
Saved their lives by hiding in the thickets when they were 
closely pursu[e]d by the Indians and lay Concealed till 
nig[ht] and then came on. Our escape this day is marvel- 
lous we were attack [ed] 18 miles from Detroit by about 
three times our force, when our en[e]my had every advan- 
tage of the ground and the first fire upon us, from the best 
information I can get the enemys loss was much greater 
than ours, the heaviest loss was on the rangers, 4 Started a 
hors[e]back to attend the Detachment, to wit McColloch 
Fowler Stockton and myself, McColloch and Fowler was 
Killed Stockton and niyself returned a foot, both having 
had our Horses Shot under us — 



1 The River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 

8 " Among the killed were Captains William M'Cullough, Robert Gilchrist, 
Henry Ulery, and Jacob Boerstler; Lieutenant Jacob Pentz, and Surgeons Ed- 
ward Roby and Andrew Allison." — Lossing's Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 
1812, p. 277, note. See also General Hull's Letter to the Secretary of War, 
August 7, 1812.— Editor. 



400 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

[Thursday, August the Sixth] 

6 th Colo? McArtliur and Cass Solisited Gnl Hull for liberty 
to take a Detachment of men and go to Brownstown to 
interr the Dead, that had unfortunately been Killed the day 
before but was positively refused a Detachment Sufficient 

[ Friday, August the Seventh ] 

7 th this morning Genl Orders issued for the army to draw 5 
days provision to have three days cooked and prepare them- 
sel[v]es against the next morning to take the field against 
the en[e]my. Major Den[n]y was directed to stay in the 
fort at Gowris with 150 Men but by Solicitation Capt Cook 
of the 4 l Regt was allowed to stay with him those that was 
to Stay in the fort was the Convelessent that was not able 
to take the field, the expected attack was on Maldon every 
Countenance was cheered and their spirits raised with a 
prospect of having liberty to act in Defence of their 
Countary, but to the[i]r great Supprise and dissatisfaction 
in the dusk of the evening the Orders for taking the field 
was Comprimanded and the army was ordered to recross 
the Detroit River to detroit after night which was done, or 
at least as many as Could be Crossed till daylight, (and 
from this time will be recorded the Dastardly evacuation of 
Sandwich by Gnl Hull Contrary to the general wish of 
all his troops) 

[ Saturday, August the Eighth ] 

8 th this morning the balanc[e] of the army that could not 
cross last night was Conveyed over the riv[e]r and the 
waggens and baggage, and the whole encamped back of the 
town of Detroit near the Fort, and in the afternoon a 
Detachm[e]nt under the Command of Colo Miller Consist- 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 401 

ing of the 4 th Rgt one Compa[n]y from McArth[u]rs Rgt 
under the Command of Capt Loekhart one from Colo Fin- 
leys under the Command of Capt Brown and one from Colo 
Cass under the Command of Capt Sanderson and Capt 
Sloans troop of Horse one Compa[n]y from Detroit under 
the Command of Capt Delandri 1 and two peaces of Small 
Ordinance under the command of Lieut Eastman & Dallaby' 2 
making in the whole about 650 men Started to the river 
Raison to meet Capt Brush and bring in the provisions 
he had with him 

[ Sunday, August the Ninth ] 

9' this day was Spent at Detro[i]t in moving the encamp- 
ment, and in the evening we heard of Colo Miller having 
had an obstinate battle with the indians and British at 
Maguawga and had beat them Colo McArthurs Rgt was 
ordered to take boats and Some provision [s] and to imme- 
diately de[s]cend the Riv[e]r to Maguawga to bring up the 
wounded, the Regiment repaired to the boats as quick as 
possible and de[s]cended the river it being a very Dark 
and rainy night from Correct information the Combat at 
Maguawga was an obstinate one the Indian Spies fired upon 
the advanced g[u]ard of the army in the morning about two 
miles from the river Sacroix 3 Killed a Mr White from 
Detroit and wounded a Horseman the army advanced formed 
the line of Battle inter [re] d the dead man Sent back the 
wounded and proceeded on in line of Battle the line broke 
in Short colum[nJ Capt Snelling Commanded the front 



1 Captain Antoine Dequindre. — Editor. 
8 Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. 
8 The River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 



402 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

g[u]ard Capt Lockhart the rear the Militia on the wings 
and the regular troops in the center — they marched in this 
order a few miles past the village of Maguawga when the 
front Guard was fired upon by a party of British and 
Indians Captain Snelling maintained his ground in a most 
gallant manner, under a very heavy fire, untill the line was 
formed and advanced to the ground he occupied, when the 
whole except the rear g[u]ard was brought into action. The 
enemy was formed behind a temporary breast work of logs 
The Indians extending in a thick wood on their left, the 
Colonel Ordered his whole line to advance, and when within 
a small distance < >f the enemy made a general discharge and 
proceeded with charged Bayonets, when the whole British 
line and Indians commenced a retreat they was pursued by 
our troops in a most vigorous manner for a considerable dis- 
tance, the victory was compleete in every part of the line, 
and Success would have been more brilliant had the cavalry 
charged the enemy on the retreat when a most favorable 
oppertunity presented. It has been stated that Capt Sloan 
refused to charge when ordered & that he gave up his 
hors[e] to Capt Snelling to make a charge — Majors Mor- 
rison tfe Van horn[e] Commanded as Majors in the action 
and is stated to have acted with great bravery an[d] untir- 
[in]g exertions, (Major Morrison had his horse killed under 
him) Capt Brown from Colo Finleys Regt Commanded the 
right wing and Capt Sanderson from Colo Cass', Regt the 
left, who both Distinguished themselves, as gallant offi- 
cers, also Captain Delandre 1 of the Michigan volunteers — 
There was in this action of the 4 U S Rgt 10 Noncomd 



1 Dequindre. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 403 

officers and privates Killed and 45 wounded — In the Ohio 
and Michigan Militia 8 were killed and 13 wounded. There 
was no officers Kill[ed] but were wounded, Capt Baker of 
the 1* Reg* Lieut 8 Larabee and Peters of the 4' Eegt, Ensign 
Whistler of the 17? Lieut Silly and Ensign Flisher of of the 
Ohio and Michigan Militia — 

[ Monday, August the Tenth ] 

10 th Colo McDonald and myself Started from Detroit to 
meet the Detachment under the Command of Colo Mc- 
Arth[u]r to assist with the wounded to Detroit. We 
Started with two Compauies of Michigan Militia under the 
command of Capt Knaggs and Captain Schley [?], the whole 
Commanded by Colo Godfrey It rained tremendiously from 
the time we left Detroit till we ar[r]ived at the River 
Sacross 1 where the men was ordered to fire of [f] their guns, 
— Such Confusion I never Saw in men pertending to be 
under any Subordination. Indeed I would [have] Consid- 
ered myself more Safe with a Dozen of the Ohio Volunteers, 
and could have made a more formidable defenc[e] in case 
we had been attacked than Could have been don[e] by the 
whole of those two Companies. We proceeded on undis- 
turbed to the village of Maguawga, wher[e] we Saw a gun 
boat loaded with men assending the river, my advice was to 
leave a party at that place to Keep them in check and pre- 
vent their landing, and for the ballance to proceed on as 
quick as possible to meet the Detachm[en]t my advice was 
not attended to, the whole marched on in confusi[o]n till 
within a mile of Colo Millers Camp when they met a man 
that told them that Colo McArthur had ordered, them to 

1 The River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 



404 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

return back to Maguawga. They all returned and found the 
British Brig Hunter laying across the channel to intercept 
our boats She fired Several Shots at us. Colo McArthur, 
on the Sight of the brig Stopt the boats and landed 
the wounded that was able to walk, Sent them round from 
the riv[e]r and pushed the boats up to the lower end of the 
village of Maguawga where they was met by Some wag- 
gons. Colo McArthur attended to onloading the wounded 
himself he Carried Several of them out of the boat, himself, 
and had them Securely placed in waggons. Several Shots 
was fired at them while they was onloading the boats, and 
when the wounded was all put into waggons the Colo left 
the boats, and Marched for Detroit with the wounded my 
Brothe[r] and a part of his Company was with the colo 
I placed myself at their head as the front g[u]ard. The 
British Continued to fire upon us as we marched up the 
river but without effect, we advanced as far as the River 
Sacross 1 where we expected to be intercepted by a party of 
British and indians, when we came in Sight we Saw a gun 
boat laying in the river opposite the Bridge over the River 
Sacross 1 which we was obliged to cross, we advanced on 
expecting every moment to receive a show[eJr of grape 
shot from the guns aboard, the gun boat lay to, and never 
fired as we crossed the bridge, which led us to believe there 
was a party of Indians waylaying us on our flank, and that 
She was only amusing us, as cpiick as I Crossed the Bridge, 
flanked of[f] with my detachm[e]nt and examined, but 
found none. The boat fired at the rear as it passed, but to 
no effect, (I presume she was afraid we had artillery with 

1 The River Aux Ecorces. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 405 

us which prevented her firing upon our front. She might 
have done executi[o]n had she kep[t] up a fire upon us as 
we crossed the bridge, — ) We ar[r]ived that evening safe 
at Detroit with the wounded The man that turned us back 
at Maguawga, Did it without any orders from Colo McAr- 
thur, And was thereby very near throwing all our wounded 
into the hands of the british had we been detained one half 
hour longer, we would have lost them, as there was Sev- 
[e]rel boats loaded with men coming in Sight when we left 
the boats, — never was there a braver or better hearted man 
than Colo McArthur This day the British Received a 
reinforcement of 400 men from down the lake 

[ Tuesday, August the Eleventh ] 

11 This day Major Denny was ordered to evacuate and 
destroy the fort in Canada opposite Detroit, — Gowris house 
that was in the fort was also consumed. It was Set on fire 
by Some person, and Major Denny extinguished the fire 
but after he Crossed the riv[e]r to Detroit, it was con- 
sumed. — There ap[p]ears to be nothing doing at this place 
today, The British was up oppisite Detroit, Soon after 
Major Denny crossed the riv[e]r, It is stated that Colo 
Miller is ordered back to Detroit, without accomplishing 
the object for which he started, and for which the lives 
of many valuable men have been lost — ! ! ! My God what 
proceedings — 

[ Wednesday, August the Twelfth ] 

12 th I was this morning at the w[h]arf and Saw a boat 
De[s]cending the riv[e]r with a white flag, (at first Sight I 
thought it was coming up the riv[e]r) and on enquiry I 
was informed that it was a flag of truce Sent by Gnl Hull to 



406 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Maldon, — The flag Soon returned and on enquiring the 
caus[e] of its returning So Soon I was inform [e]d that 
they had met Gnl Brock at Sandwich, and that the British 
had established the[i]r head quarters there I enquired the 
particular caus[e] of the flag being sent but could not 
assertain it This day I met the Contract [o]r Mr Beard in 
the street, and enquired of him the state of our provisions, 
he informed me that he had 20 days provisions then in 
Store and mentioned to me where he could get a consider- 
able quantity of flour, he also stated to me that it would be 
necessary for the army to recross the river and to attack 
Maldon, immediately or else to Capitulate, as the British 
was reinforcing and would attack Detroit [?] they could not 
otherwise Save the property at Detroit. I observed to him 
that the army had been prevented from going to Maldon 
when they wished and had been forced across the riv[e]r 
from canada against their will. I did not think that they 
would again cross willingly under the present commander, 
that all confidence in him was lost, and I thought if the fort 
must be Surrendered, that the Ohio volunteers would never 
consent to be Surrendered as prisoners of war, mearly to 
save the private property at Detroit, he felt much agitated 
at the Idea, I found from his conversation that that an 
arrangement of that kind had been talked of and I was led 
to believe that the flag of trace that had be[e]n sent to the 
british in the morning had been Sent for that purpose, — 
knowing Mr Beard to be one of Genl Hulls confidential 
fr[i]ends I was convinced from the Substance of his conver- 
sation, that the Gen! had it then in contemplation, to Sur- 
render us as prisoners of war, in case there Should be 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 407 

an attack on Detroit by the British, and from his conver- 
sation it appeared as if he knew what was a going to 
be done by the British, and how we would have to act 
on our part, — Colo McDonald was present during the 
greater part of the conversation — I informed Colo Mc- 
Arthur the substance of the conversation, and expressed 
my fears that a Capitulation was intended by the Gn! — 
I then wrote a letter to Major William Kendall of Ports- 
mouth Ohio, a Copy of which is as follows 

Detroit 12 th August 1812 
Dear Sir, 

I have the mortification to announce to you, that on 
the evening of the 7 th inst[a]nt while waiting with anxiety 
for liberty to march to Maldon, that the american Army 
was ordered by their Gen! to recross the river to Detroit, 
and thereby have been prevented from plucking the laurels 
that has heretofore been hovering over our heads 
Never was there a more Patriotic army, never was there an 
army possessing a greater love of Countary, or a more 
ardent desire to render it important Services, neither was 
there ever an army that had it more completely in their 
power to have accomplished every object of their Desire 
than the Present, And must now be sunk into Disgrace for 
the want of a General at their head — 

Never was there officers more Solicitous, or more united 
than our Patriotic Colonels (and indeed the whole army) 
have been both of the Regulars and Volunteers, to promote 
the Public good neither was there ever men of talents 
as they are so shamefully opposed by an imbesile or Treach- 
erous Commander as they have been — he has frequently 



408 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

Called the field officers to councill in which they have with- 
out an exception united in Sentiment, and have in every 
instance been been opposed by Gnl Hull. Would to God 
Either of our Colonels had the command, 1 if they had, we 
might yet wipe of [f] the foul stain, that has been brought 
upon us, We are now reduced to a perilous situation, the 
British are reinforcing, our Communication [s] with the 
States are cut of[f], our Provisions growing short, and 
likely to be Surrounded by hosts of Savages 

All appears Dark [at] present, but hope is not lost If 
energy and decision is united with courage we may yet 
extricate ourselves, — 

With Sentiments of respect I am your obed[i]ent ser- 
vant Robert Lucas 
Maj r 

Wm Kendall 
This Afternoon Colo Miller returned with his detachment 
after undergoing a fateegue of a Severe engagement, and 
being kep[t] for Several days without Provisions or Tents 
Some of them had Indian Scalps hanging to the ramrods of 
their muskets as they marched in — 

[ Thursday, August the Thirteenth ] 

13 l The British have taken possession of the Bank opposite 
Detroit and have commenced erecting a Battery, opposite 
the town, Lieuts Anderson and Dallaby- each threw up a 
Battery on our side one in the old Public Garden and the 



1 The assumption of the command of the army by one of the Colonels was sev- 
eral times discussed, but the decisive step was never taken. — See Adams' Ilistory 
of the United States, Vol. VI, p. 326.— Editor. 

2 Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 409 

other Just below the town, — The British is Suffered to 
work at their batterys undisturbed aud perhaps will Soou 
Commence firing upon the Town (Why in the name of God 
are they not routed before they compleet their Battery) 
This afternoon Colo Finley with a Detaehm[en]t was 
ordered to prepare to march on a Detachment up the river. 
They prepared and waited for orders, application was made 
and the Gnl was found asleep he could not be disturbed, 
therefore the Detachment had to remain in camp till the 
next day. — he probably had been taking a little Wine with 
his friends, which threw him into a deeper repose than 
Usual, — We also this day heard that a party of Indians 
from Ma[c]kinaw was coming do[w]n and was seen at 
Lake St Clair 

[ Friday, August the Fourteenth ] 

14 th The British is Suffered to continue their work unmo- 
lested, no kind of preparation is making by o[u]r army 
about the garrison, Lieuts Dallaby 1 and Anderson, still at 
work at the[i]r batterys. This afternoon Colo Finley is 
ordered with a Detachment to the Spring wells, and about 
Sunset Colo? McArthur and Cass is ordered with a Detach- 
ment from their Regiments of 350 men, to march a back 
way to the riv[e]r Raisin to escort the provisions that 
had Some time remained there Colo Finlays Detachment 
returned to camp 

[ Saturday, August the Fifteenth ] 

15 th Every thing in confusion as usual, Gnl Hull has a 
Markee Pitched in the camp South of the Fort of a Singu- 



1 Lieutenant James Daliba. — Editor. 



410 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

la[r] Structure, never before seen in this army — with 
Sundry Red and Blue Stripes in various ways over the top, 
(I am apprehensive that it is intended as Som[e] Signal, — 
as he never before had a markee in camp since the army has 
been at Detroit) abo[u]t 1 Oclock Two officers ar[r]ived 
from Sandwich with a flag of truce. AVhile they are consult- 
ing with Gnl Hull the British on the opposite shore is busily 
engaged in removing a house out of the way of the Batterys, 
and as Soon as they had the house compleetely removed 
the officers returned, no attempt was ever made by Gnl Hull 
to prevent the British compleeting the battery, about 2 
oclock we was informed that the British Summoned the fort 
to Surrende[r] and had stated that their force was Amply 
Sufficient to justify such a Demand, and if it did not sur- 
render that the Garrison and Town would be massacred by 
the Indians, to this demand an immediate refusal was given. 
The army was astonished at the insol[e]nce of the Briti[s]h 
knowing our force to be Superior and possessing every ad- 
vantage over them that we could desire were it properly 
used — about 4 oclock 2 vessels hove in Sight below Sand- 
wich point, and their battery played upon the town The 
fire was returned and continued without interruption and 
with little effect till Dark the Shells were thrown till 11 
oclock, 2 of which fell within the garrison one of which 
Wounded a man which was the only injury don[e] in the 
fort, — Capt Snelling was Sent down to the spring wells to 
See the movements of the British vessels, he ascertained 
that they was landing troops and Sent to Gnl Hull for some 
peaces of Artillery, the Gnl neglected to Send him any, and 
the British landed the[i]r troops and Some peaces of Artil- 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 41 1 

lery unmolested — What could have a greater appearance of 
treach[er]y in our Gnl, than Suffering the en[e]niy to erect 
their Battery unmolested, and the refusing to grant Capt 
Snelling Artillery to prevent their landing their troops. 
The British might easily [have] been prevented from erect- 
ing their batterys and if Capt Snelling had been furnished 
with artillery when requested he would have drove the 
British Vessels down the river, or Shattered them to peaces, 
and would intirely have prevented the enemy from landing 
the[i]r troops. It appears as if Colo? McArthur and Cass 
had been sent a way on purpose by Gnl Hull So that he 
might have a fair oppertunity of Surrendering the fort to 
the British, — when the British first commenc[e]d firing 
upon the town The fourth Regim[e]nt and the Ballauce of 
Colo McArthurs Regt that was not with him, was ordered 
into the fort and placed on the walls, in which position they 
lay all night, — immediately after the fort was Summon [e]d 
an express was sent to Colo? McArth[u]r and Cass inform- 
ing the[m] thereof and ordering them to return immediately 
to Detroit 

[Sunday. August the Sixteenth] 

16 th This morning about daybr[e]ak the British renewed 
the[i]r fire upon the fourt, and it was returned from our 
Battery. The roaring of the cannon was tremendious but 
there was but little injury done, one Shot axidentally killed 
a man, in the plain, and two by axident being nearly Spent 
fell within the garrison, one of which killed Ensign Sibly 
and a Soldier from Mackinaw and the other killed Lieu' 
Hanks 1 Doctor Reynolds Surgeon-mate to Colo Cass Rgt 

1 Lieutenant Hancks had been in command of Mackinaw when that fort was 
captured by the British on July 17, 1812.— Editor. 



412 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

from Zanesville and Wounded Doctor Blood Surgeon mate 
in the 4 th U S Egt The ball took of [£] intirely one of Doc- 
t[o]r Reynolds legs, and the other part[l]y of [f] he Died 
in ab[o]ut a half an hour after, (he was Said to utter the 
following words about the time he expired) "fight on ruy 
brave comrade. I shall nev[e]r see Zanesville I die in 
peace" — Peace be to his manes — but his comrades was pre- 
vented from fighting, by their commander — for the fort 
was Surrendered about 8 oclock, the Gnl Capitulat[e]d^at 
the time the Gnl raised a flag of truce on the walls of the 
garrison, the 4 th Regt and a small part [of] Colo McAr- 
th[u]rs was in the fort, Colo Finleys Rgt was posted on the 
North of the plain back of the fort. And Major Denny 
with part of Colo? McArthurs and Casses Regts along Some 
Pickets South of the plain, a Part of the Michigan Militia 
in the upper part of the town and a part in the plain; 2-24 
pounders loaded with grate shot and Musket balls placed 
on a Commanding eminence, b[e]low the town, and indeed 
our whole force was placed in a situation that the enemis 
flank and front must have been exposed let them make an 
attack upon what part they would, — Every man was wait- 
ing with anxiety the approach of the enemy and expected a 
proud day for his Countary, at the Same time Colo? Cass 
and McArthur was within a few miles and would have fell 
upon the enemies rear, (altho[ugh] not known to us at that 
time) our a[r]my thus placed, I was on the back wall of the 
garrison viewing the movements of Some Indians that made 
their appearance in the plain and was catching som[e] 
horses, and was just de[s]ceuding the wall with a view of 
joining colo Finleys flank to meet them when I was Called 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 413 

to by Some of my acquaintances], and informed that a 
white flag had been raised upon the wall, I was struck with 
estonishm[e]nt and returned to enquire the caus[e] I was 
informed that Gnl Hull had ordered our Coulors to be 
struck and that it was opposed by Colo Miller, but that he 
had Sent out a flag of truce to the British to capitulate, and 
had ordered the whole of the troops into the garrison to 
stack their Arms The British at this time was marching up 
the Detroit river by Colum[n]s of plato[o]ns twelve men 
in front and when the head of their colum[n] hadar[r]ived 
within about 5 hundred yards of our line, when a Single 
Discharge from the 24 pound [e]r must have dispersed them, 
orders were received from Gnl Hull for all to retreat to the 
fort and not to fire upon the En[e]my one universal burst 
of indignation was apparent upon the receipt of these orders, 
our troops was immediately crowded into the fort, and two 
British officers rode up to the Gnls marke[e] they remained 
there a short time and retired, — I made inquiry of the 
caus[e] and what was done I Soon ascertained that the Gn! 
had Capitulated and had Surrendered the whole army as 
Prisoners of War. In entering into this capitulation the 
Gnl only consulted his own feelings, not an officer was con- 
sulted, not one antisipated a Surrender till they Saw the 
white flag displayed upon the walls. 1 Even the women was 
indignant at the Shameful degradation of the Am eric [an] 
character, and all felt as they should have felt but he who 
held in his hands the reins of authority our mornings report 
from information] was effectiv[e] men fit for duty 1060, 



' Cf. Report of Colonel Lewis Cass to Secretary of War Eustis, September 10, 
1812. — Editor. 



414 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

exclusive of 300 Michigan militia on duty, — The whole 
force of the enemy both white red and Black was from the 
best informati[on] we could gain about 1030. They They 
had 29 plattoons twelve in a plattoon of men in Uniform, a 
number of them must have been Canadian militia,— after 
enquiring into the principles of the capitulation, I assertained 
that all the U. S troops was to be Sent to Quebeck, and 
being apprehensive that Gnl Hull would wish to have me 
Sent with them, 1 I thought it prudent to leave the garrison 
previous to the British taking possession I therefore placed 
my Sword and uniform clothes in my brother [QCapt J 
Lucas) Trunk threw my musket and cartridge box against 
the wall and left the fort, I went down in the town of De- 
troit and passed in the capacity of a citizen, and paid a par- 
ticular attention to the Proceedings. 2 The British first 
placed a peace of Artillery in front of Gnl Hulls Door one 
at each of our Battery and placed guards to command the 
defiles round the fort previ[o]us to our troops being marched 
out of the fort. Their order of march into the fort wa[s] 
the Regulars and those in Uniform in front, the Militia 
not in Uniform next a Compa[n]y with handkerch[i]efs 
round their heads and painted like Indians next and the In- 
dians in the rear Commanded by British officers Dressed and 
painted like Indians. The Indians was not Suffered to go 
into the fort, I Stood at the corner of the street and Saw 
them pass me in this order, with indignant feelings, but 
when our troops was marched out our Coulors Struck and 
the British Coulors hoisted in their Stead, my feelings was 



1 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. 

2 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 415 

affected beyond expression, My God who could bear the 
sight without vowing eternal vengeanc[e] against the perpe- 
trators of Such Diabolical acts, and agaiust the Nation 
that would employ such Detestable Savage allies. To See 
our Coulors prostitute to See and hear the firing from our 
own battery and the huzzaws of the British troops the yells 
of the Savages and the Discharge of small arms, as Signals 
of joy over our disgrace was scenes too horrid to meditate 
upon with any other view than to Seek revenge — The In- 
dians after the British had got peaceable possession of the 
fort, gave, themselves up to plunder they took and bore 
away at will, horses and Such other property as fell in their 
way, they robbed and plund[e]red the the hous[e] of M r 
Atwater the Acting Governor and Capt Knag[g]s the 
Ind[i]an interpreter of every thing they could find, (the 
Capitulation to the contrary notwithstanding) and many 
other attrocious acts, — I Saw Major AVitherall of the Detroit 
Volunteers Brake his Sword and throw it away and Sev[e]ral 
Soldiers broke their muskets rather than Surrender them to 
the British — Soon after the British had taken the fort, and 
made the arrangements by placing g[u]ards at various places 
in the town I saw Gnl Hull walking linked arms, with a 
British officer, from the fort to his own hous[e], Possess- 
ing a more pleasing countenanc[e] than I had ever Seen 
him, and appeared to be very pleasingly engaged in con- 
versation with him — While in town I happened in company 
with a British officer who was exulting at their concjuest. I 
could not refrain from telling him that the conquest he was 
boasting of they had obtain [e]d through treachery, and 
that in my opinion they would not maintain it long, as we 



416 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

could have an army of 10,000 men there in a few months, 
he appeared to make light of my observations — after he 
retired I was advised by an acquaintance] not to speak my 
mind so free as the British was Such a haughty people and 
I was ther[e] in their power, it might operate against me. I 
had previously formed a determination not to go with them 
as a prisoner of war — altho[ugh] I had heard it stated that 
the 4 th Rgt and Gnl Lucas was to be Sent on to Quebeck, I 
knew they did not know my person, and being informed by 
Major Denny that his Detachment was to be immediately 
Sent on board a vessel, I thought it desirable to go aboard 
lest Some of the inhabitants of Detroit Should betray me. 
I communicated my intention to Some of my confidential 
friends in or[der] that I might not be betrayed about 3 
oclock the Detachm[en]t went aboard the Maria of Prisque 
isle — I requested Ensign Baird to have Capt J Lucas 
Tru[n]k taken aboard, he being absent with Colo McArthur, 
which he had done I made Some arrang[e]ments in town 
and went to the w[h]arf, with them. The British G[u]ard 
that was at the vessel asked me if I was going aboard I told 
them I was, he asked me if I was going to stay aboard I 
answered him also that I was, he then Suffered me to pass 
aboai'd without asking any further questions, — I went aboard 
and requested the boys aboard not to call me by any title and 
told them my reason for making Such request. Soon after 
I went aboard the vessel dropped down the riv[e]r about a 
mile and lay too all night Some time that Evening Colo? 
McArthur and Cass returned with their Detachments, and 
was Surrendered as prisoners J 

1 See below, Appendix B. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 417 

[Monday, August the Seventeenth] 

17 this morning the British were firing of[f] our arms up at 
the w[h]arf — we Surrendered 2500 stand of small arms be- 
sides what was in the magazin[e], about 60 peaces of Can- 
non of Various Sizes 2 Howitzer[s] 40 Barrels of Powd[e]r 
100,000 Cartridges made up 400 rounds [of] cartidges for 
24 po[u]nd[er]s and a great quantity of Balls Shells, and 
Cartridges for the Smaller Cannon, the particular quantity 
not precisely known to me we lay to all this day, Colo Mc- 
Arthur Came aboard and returned, on Shore he was engaged 
in making out the rolls of his regiment this evening Capt 
Keys and a party of Colo McArth[ur , ]s Bgt passed us in 
open boats they had Some provision with them but left 
none of it with us, — Several British offic[e]rs wa[s] aboard 
this day — and I was informed that there had been Consider- 
able enquiry made for me at Detroit after I had left there, 
by the British offic[e]rs, but could not find where I was, 
Capt J Lucas and a number that was out with Colo McAr- 
thur came aboard The vessel was loaded with furs, and 
the Strength of the Skins and the Bilge water was enough 
to Suffocate us to Death 

[Tuesday, August the Eighteenth] 

18 Colo McArthur McDonald Puthuff Majors Denny and 
Trimble came aboard we raised anchor and Drop[p]ed 
down the riv[e]r, toward Maldon but the wind being 
against us we did not get down till night here we drew 
Some provisions for the first [time] after the fort had been 
Surrendered, having been three days without eating any 
thing I felt considerably hungary, — The Commandant 
at Maldon came aboard, but I kep[t] tolerably close below 



418 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

while we was laying at Maldon for fear I Should be be- 
trayed, as I had no great inclination to go with Such Detest- 
able enemies, as the British to Quebeck as a prisoner of 
war 

[Wednesday, August the Nineteenth] 

19' This morning we Saw a great number of Indians cross- 
ing the river towards Brownstown. I am fearfull that they 
are gone in pursu[i]t of Capt Brush, and if they overtake 
him his party must become a Sacrafice as the[i]r number is 
So far Superior to his, — (I hope he may make his escape to 
Ohio with his provisions before they overtake him) we lay 
this day at Maldon, our officers were frequently ashore Con- 
siderable inquiry was here made where I was, but no one 
informed them 

[Thursday, August the Twentieth] 

20 th we still lay at Maldon Capt Ruff is on Shore making 
Some arrangem[e]nts about his vessel, Colo McArth[u]r 
Sent for him to come aboard he Came and hoisted Sail for 
Cleveland in the State of Ohio 

[Friday, August the Twenty-first] 

21' This morning we landed at the Island at Put in bay and 
Cooked Some pro visions we th[e]re assertained that th[e]re 
was 230 men aboard, not more than half of them could ever 
lay down at a time. There was a British officer and a 
g[u]ard of men with us, we again went aboard and Set 
Sail — this night Capt. ruff had his boat prepared, on Deck 
to get in in case th[e]re should be a storm he was appre- 
hensive the vessel would upset in case there Should arise a 
gale of wind, as the great part of the men was obliged to 
remain on deck. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 419 

[Saturday, August the Twenty-second] 

22 nd The weather was fine but no wind, we made but poor 
headway and our provisions growing Scanty 

[Sunday, August the Twenty-third] 

23 rd The weathe[r] as yesterday in the evening we came 
near land at the mouth of Black Biv^jr, 1 Colo McArthur 
and a number of his men was Set a Shore, 26 or 27 miles 
from cleaveland, here I took my Sword out of the trunk and 
went a Shore, I never had from the time of the Surrender 
of Detroit felt intirely indejiendent untill I got my feet on 
land at the mouth of Black Biv[e]r, I lay down by a fire 
and rested comfortab[l]y this night — 

[Monday, August the Twenty-fourth] 

24, Those that had landed Started a foot to Cleveland, I 
had no provision, nor nothing to buy with, I traveled on and 
found the inhabitants extrem[e]ly hospitable, I ar[r]ived 
at Cleveland in the evening, where I found my comrad[e]s 
that had went on in the vessle, we lodged at Cleveland that 
night 

[Tuesday, August the Twenty-fifth, to Thursday, August the Twenty-seventh] 

25 th This day Colo Cass and Colo Huntington (the former 
Governor of Ohio) Started to the City of "Washington with 
dispa[t]ches to [the] governm[en]t rendering an account 
of our Disasterous Campaign, Colo McArthur Drew pro- 
visions for the troops to last them to Canton and allowed 
each Captain to march his Company as he Saw proper. I 
here got a knapsack, and .fil[l]ed it with my uniform 
cloth [e]s hat, my Journal, and Such other articles as I did 

1 A river emptying into Lake Erie in what is now Lorain County, Ohio. — 
Editor. 



420 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

not wish to leave and started on a foot with my Brother 
Capt J Lucas, he being on well we did not ar[r]ive at Can- 
ton till the evening of the 27 th where he was treated with 
great hospitality by the Citizens of Canton and also by the 
inhabitants on the road from cleaveland to that place 

[Friday, August the Twenty-eighth] 

28, Colo McArthur Made out a Provision return for his reg- 
iment and Drew for them money in Lieu of provision, to 
bare their expences hom[e], here every man was allowed 
the liberty of returning to his home [by] Such rout[e] as 
he thought proper. Myself Capt J Lucas and 1 1 other men 
of Capt Lucas <fe Capt Rupes Companies Started to George- 
town 1 for the purpose of des[c] ending the Ohio by wate[r] 
to our homes — In the afternoon I was overtaken by Lieut 
Larwell of the U. S Artillery and a Mr Mason who furnished 
me with a horse, I left my Compa[n]y and went on to 
George [town] to provide crafts, I proceeded on in company 
with Mr Larwell and Mason, to an old gentlem[an's | by 
the name of Griswould where we Lodged all night, 

[Saturday, August the Twenty-ninth] 

29 I continued on with my q[u]est to new Lisbon 2 and 
Breakfasted here I was invited by Colo Kinny to attend 
with Some gentlemen from Virginia and Pennsylvania that 
had come on as a Committee of arrangement, to acquire 
information relativ[e] to the Surrender of Gnl Hulls Army 
and the Situation of our frontier. I attended and gave them 
Such iuformat[io]n as I was possessed of relative to the 

1 A town on the south bank of the Ohio river in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, 
a few miles east of the Ohio State line. — Editor. 

2 Lisbon, the county seat of Columbiana County, Ohio. — Editor. 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 421 

Disasterous Campaign. I was at this place treated with 
great attention and politeness and furnished with an ellegant 
horse to ride to Georgetown I then proceeded on to George- 
town in company with a young Gentleman by the name of 
Bell, and ar[r]ived at Georgetown in the evening I was 
iutrodused by Mr Bell to his uncle a Mr Christmass Merchant 
at Georgetown whose Polite attention and hospitality had 
too deep an impression upon my mind ever to be forgotten. 
Altho[ugh] we had been meeting troops every day marching 
towards the frontier Since we left cleaveland, I met this 
afternoon a Battallion of troops from Washington County 
Pennsylvania] whose patriotic appearanc[e] exceeded any 
I had Seen on this march. I lodged this night with M? 
Christmass 

[Sunday, August the Thirtieth] 

30 th About 12 Oclock Capt J Lucas and the party with him 
ar[r]ived, we was all invited to dine with M r Christmass 
and M r Bevers, who assisted us in procuring Crafts we pur- 
chased a Sciff and in the evening Started down the Ohio 
and de[s]cended about two miles we found that our Sciff 
would not carry us all, and purchased a second one, and 
divided our Compa[n]y 

[Monday, August the Thirty-first, to Friday, September the Fourth] 

31 We Started down the Ohio, and rowed day and night by 
turns till we landed at Portsmouth which was on friday the 
4 th of Septemb[e]r about 10 oclock A. M. being not quite 
four days and a half from Georgetown to Portsmo[u]th we 
found our friends general [l]y well except M rs Lucas who 
had been in a bad state of health for a long time, — I was 
happy to find on my return that the Disasters at Detroit 



422 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

had kindeled an unextinguishable flame of Patriotism in the 
breasts of my neighbors, I do hope that the Disasterous 
Surrender of Detroit may terminate in Public good. It 
has kindeled an unexampeled flame of Patriotism in the 
western countary, and it may perhaps be a usefull Caution 
to our Governm[en]t who they entrust with th[e] Com- 
mand of their armies — for my part I am determined if life 
is spared, nev[e]r to desert till I have Satisfaction, for the 
insults giv[e]n us by ou[r] Detestable Enemy the British 

and the[i]r savage allies 

Robert Lucas 

Portsmouth Ohio 4 th Sept[embe]r 1812 Safe ar[r]ived &c 



APPENDIX A 



[ The following is from the original letter which was found among the Lucas 
letters and papers. — Editor.] 

DaytoTi May 9 th 

1812 



Capu Rupe — 
Sir— = 

You will march your Detachment to Greenville for the 

protection of the frontier. — You will advise the Inhabitants not to 
quit their Farms — but to associate & build Block Houses — as I have 
ordered Lieut. McCormick with a Party of Rangers to Greenville — 
to range in that neighborhood — they will be protected — You are 
not to molest any friendly Indians — but assure them of the Friend- 
ship of the United States. Indians committing Hostilities — you will 
repel take destroy — unless Indians commit Hostilities, you will 
return on Wednesday next. 

Gen. Lucas will accompany you — to whose advice I recommend 

your attention 

R J Meigs, 

Gov — Ohio 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 423 

APPENDIX B 

[ The following is from a copy of the letter, transcribed and signed in the 
handwriting of Robert Lucas and found in the collection of Lucas letters and 
papers. — Editor. ] 

Portsmouth Ohio 10 th October 1812 
Sir 

having escaped the general wreck of the Northwestern army, 
and ar[r]ived at my usual place of residence, I Conceive it my duty 
to make a Candid Statement to you of the Causes which attached me 
to that army and the means by which I made my escape after it Sur- 
rendered on the 16 th of August last. Sir on the 18* [?] of April last 
(7 ['?] days after I had accepted the appointment of Capt in the U S 
Infantry and previous to my receiving any orders from my Superior 
officers in the U. S Army,) I Received Orders from the Executive of 
this State, through Major General McArth[u]r, to transmit without 
dilay from my Brigade my quota of 1200 militia required from this 
State to march immediately to Detroit. The emmergency of the 
call made it necessary for me to attend to my official duties as a 
Brigadier Gen! in the Militia and I exerted my influeuc[e] to furnish 
the quota required of Volunteers agreeably to the act of Congress of 
the 6 th of February 1812 and succeeded, So that on the 6th of May 
I had 4 Compani[e]s of Volunteers engaged under the provisions of 
the aforesaid act and one compa[n]y of riflemen engaged for Six 
month[s], rendezvous at Dayton from my Brigade, which I had 
organized agreeably to the laws of this Act [?] in one Battallion 
under the command of Major James Denny, having thus discharged 
my official duties as a Brigadier Gen! and made my return to the 
Major Gn 1 of Division, I was requested by his Excellency Governor 
Meigs, on the 9 th of May to take a Company of men and repair to 
greenvillfe], to ascertain the movements and disposition of the Indians 
about that place, (they having previously commit[t]ed some depreda- 
tions) I accordi[n]gly went, complied with my instructions returned 
and made report to his excellency, at which time his excellency in- 
formed me that it was necessary to Send an express through to 



424 IOWA JOURNAL OP HISTORY AND POLITICS 

detroit, previous to the army marching and requested me to under- 
take the journey, to which request I readily Consented, on Condition 
that lie would obtain permission from the Departm[en]t of war (as I 
had previously accepted of an appointm[en]t in the U S Army I 
thought it nec[e]ssary that permission should be obtained previous to 
my leavi[n]g the State) to which he replied that he could not dis- 
pens[e] with my service[s] and that he would write to the Depart- 
ment of war, on the Subject which I presume he did and assured me 
that I Should neither loos rank nor emolument by attending to his 
request, flat[t]ered with these assurances I undertook the journey, 
and on the 25th f May in Conipa[n]y with W m Den[n]y of the vol- 
unteers, I started from Day[ton] for Detroit, with Directions from 
Gov Me[i]gs, and Gnl Hull, to pass by the way of Dellaw[are] 
Upper and Lower Sanduskys, then by the Rapids of the Miami of 
the lake, the river Raisin, and through Brownstown to Detroit, I 
went as Direct[ed] and on the 3 rd of June ar[r]ived to Detroit, Des- 
charg[ing] my duty agreeable to the instructions, and on the 21 of 
June returned met the army in the wilderness, on the head waters of 
Miamy, between forts M'Arth[u]r and fort Finley, and reported to 
the Gnl. I returned with the army to detroit, and crossed with it to 
Canada, — while in Canada on the 22 nd of July I received orders from 
Colo Miller of Ohio to repair to Chillicothe for the purpose of receiv- 
ing mon[e]y ['?] and instructions to command the recruiting service 
(they being the first orders I had received on that Subject) immedi- 
ately on the receipt of the orders I prepared to return to the Stat[eJ 
of Ohio, and on informing Gnl Hull thereof, he requested to See the 
orders I shew him, and after perusing them he Said that he could 
not spare me from the army, and that he would take all the responsi- 
bility upon himself in ordering me to remain, untill further orders, 
and that he would account to Colo Miller, and the Department of 
war for my not returning to the State of Ohio. I considered myself 
bound to obey Gnl Hulls orders, and remained with his army, untill 
it was Disgracefully (and perhaps treacherously) surrendered to the 
British forces at Detroit where I witnessed a Scene more easily felt 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 425 

than Described, where I Saw a brave army of patriots possessing 
every apparant advantage over their en[e]my and thursting for Lib- 
erty to pluck the laurels from the brows, of their detestable enimies; 
Surrendered by their Gnl, (contrary to the remotest immaginatiori) to 
an inferior force of an inferior Quality, without their being allowed 
the liberty of firing a gun in their own Defense — I Cannot meditate 
on the Surrender of our Army without feeli[n]g a glow of indig- 
nation, therefor[e] I will leave the Subject and proceed to inform you 
how I made my escape after the Surrender — 

After the Capitulation was Signed and their troops ordered into 
the garrison to Stack their arms, and previous to the british taking 
possession of the garrison I learnt from the Capitulation the army 
was Surrendered as prisone[r]s of war and was given to understand 
that the United States troops was destined for Quebeck. Altho[ugh] 
I had not been regularly attached to the army I was apprehensiv[e] 
that Gnl Hull would return me as an off[i]cer in the U. S. Army, 
and hearing it mentioned by some, that the 4 th U. S Regt and 
(Gn! Lucas) they making use of my name as Such) was destined for 
Quebeck, — I thought it advisable to mak[ej my escape, — I there- 
fore left the garrison and went into the town previous to the british 
forces marching in, the British not knowing my person, and my 
being equip[p]ed in an inferior dress, I Saw them march by me into 
the garrison, I remained in town as a Citizen paying particular 
attention to the proceedings untill about 3 oclock P. M. when a 
Detachment of Volunteers under the Comm[a]nd of Major James 
Denny was ordered a board of a vessel, I fell in with them, and went 
a board in the Capacity of a Volunteer, and made my escape as Such, 
notwithst[an]ding the great inquiry made for me by the British offi- 
cers after I had went aboard — 

Now Sir it is a Doubt with Som[e] whether I Can com[e] within 
the powers [?] of the capitulati[o]n, as I never was regularly attached 
to the army, nor my name ever known on record in the army as an 
officer, neither was I ever in their possession of the British as Such — 
having enrolled myself as a volunteer in the first instance to encour- 



426 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

[a]ge others, rny nam[e] still continued on the roll as such in Capt 
John Lucass Compa[n]y, a Copy of which the British has in posses- 
sion, it being the only way they can possibly have my nam[e], with- 
out it has been returned by Gnl Hull, otherwise, — from these circum- 
stances] I Can hardly Consider myself a prisoner of war, — and have 
sin[ce] my retu[rn] received instruction from Colo Miller to Com- 
man[d] the recruiting Servi[ee] at this place which instruction I am 
attending to at present, — 

Sir if I have erred in any of the abov[e] proceeding[s] I hope you 
will do me the just[ic]e to Considered it an error of the mind, and 
not of intent[io]n, intirely grown out of an ardent zeal for the inter- 
est of my countary — Whether I am entitled to merit or demerit, 
either as an officer or a soldier for my conduct during the Said Cani- 
pa[i]gn I leave for my associate[s] in arms to determinje] and recom- 
mend you particularly to the account Gnl McArth[u]r may give you 
of the manner in which I was employed and how I discharged my 
duty in my Sev[e]ral Stations I was employed in, as he is well know- 
ing the greater part of my conduct during the Said Campaign — 

Sir, will you be So good as to drop me a line, to inform me 
whether you approve or disapprove of my Conduct, also whether you 
Consider me under the restricti[o]n of a prisoner of war, or not, 
I have the honor to be with high Consideration your 
Very obent Sert 
Honl Wm Eustis Robert Lucas Capt 

Secret[ar]y of the Departm[en]t U. S. Infantry 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 497 

APPENDIX C 

[ The following is from a copy of the original, transcribed and signed in the 
handwriting of Robert Lucas and found in the collection of Lucas letters and 
papers. — Editor.] 

Portsmouth Ohio November 4 th 1812 
M* Foster 

Sir 

I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30 th 

ul? and hasten with pleasure to give you Such information, as I am 

possessed of, relative to the disasterous campaign tinder Gnl Hull. 

I extremely regret that it is not in my power to furnish you with 
a Correct Copy of the Original Speaches deliverfed] to the different 
Nations of the Indians while on express to Detroit as the copy I 
reserved was handed to a gentleman at Detroit who nev[e]r re- 
t[u]rn[e]d it But Sir, I will give you as correct information of all 
transactions during my tour to Detroit as I am possessed of — 

On the 25 th of May 1812, I waited on Gnl Hull at Dayton to 
receive Such instructions as he thought proper to communicate to 
me, previous to my departure to Detroit, at which time he delivered 
me a Packet, addressed to M r Varnum, U. S. factor at Lower San- 
dusky one Directed to Rueben Atwater Acting Governor at Detroit, 
and a letter Directed to Colo Anderson at the river Raison, also 
a letter Directed to the Acting Governor at Detroit, also Sundary 
Copies of an address to the Several nations of Indians through which 
I was to pass, — The Gn! then informed me that he thought the 
journey I was about to undertake a hazardous one, and my Safe 
ar[r]ival of great importance, he then delivered to me Such verbal 
instructions as he thought necessary for me to attend to, stating, 
that written instructions was unnecessary and might opperate as an 
impediment to the expedition in case They Should be intercepted. — 

I was instructed to pass by the town of Dellaw[ar]e by the Upper 
and Lower Sandusky? by the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the 
lake, by the settlement on the River Raisin to Detroit, thence to 
return and meet the army, and to advise the inhabitants on the 



428 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

frontiers, not to quit their homes, but in case of any hostile appear- 
ance of the Indians to assemble and build block houses, and if 
attacked, to defend themselves to the last extremity; untill the 
army ar[r]ived, or untill men Should be Sent to their releaf. I was 
also instructed to request the inhabitants at the foot of the rapids of 
the Miami of the lake, those at the river Raison, and at detroit to 
assist in opening a Road from Detroit to meet the army, — and was 
Authorized to State to the inhabitants] at Lower Sandusky that a 
Detachment of men would be immediately Sent on to that place, to 
erect a Block hous[e] and g[u]ard the Public Store — I was also 
requested by Gnl Hull to call at the different Indian villages as I 
passed through and to read and have interpreted to them his address 
— (which was in substance as follows. 

It was Dated Head quarters on the Northern frontier Dayton 
May 23»i 1812— 

Addressed to the chiefs Sachems and warriors of the 
Wiandots Dellawar[e]s Miamis Ottawas Pottawattomi[e]s Chippa- 
was and Such of the Shawanees as reside in the State of Ohio or 
Territory of Michigan — (addressing them in the usual stile of 
addressing Indians) stating that he long had lived amonngst [them], 
that he long had smoked the pipe of peac[e] and friendship with 
them, that their ears had been open to his eouncell and their conduct 
had proven that they respected his advice. He informed them that 
their Great father that presided at the great eouncell lire of the 
nation had deemed it necessary to send a num[e]rous army to the 
northern frontier, that in one hand he carried the olive branch of 
Peace, and in the other the Sword, and that those of them that 
accepted the one Should enjoy protection peace and hapfp]iuess, and 
those that prefer[r]ed the other Should experience all the punish- 
m[e]nt his powerfull hand could inflict, and to his Command the 
President had entrusted the army with authority to adopt such 
measures with the ch[i]efs of the[i]r Several nations as in his opinion 
might best Secure the peace and Safety of the inhabitants on the 
frontiers — 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 429 

He then informed them that the present was a most important 
crisis, That everything dear to them was then at stake, and if any 
considerations Should induce their nations to commit acts of hostil- 
ity, they would forfe[i]t all their lands all their annuities, and that 
they would forfe[i]t indeed their very existence amongst; us and on 
the other hand that those of them who was disposed to adher[e] to 
the existing treaties and live in peace and friendship with their white 
brethr[e]n, Should enjoy their lands in peace Should receive their 
annuities and enjoy all the blessings a bountifull countary could 
bestow, and concluded with assuring them of the sinsere desire of 
the white people ever to live in peace and friendship with the[i]r 
Red Brethren — &. C. 

After Receiving the above instructions I left the army on the 
eveni[n]g of the 25 th of May 1812 in company with William Den[n]y, 
and ar[r]ived at Dellaware on the 27 th we ther[e] furnished ourselves 
with provisions, and procee[d]ed on to Sandusky, we ar[r]ived at 
Negro Town upper Sandusky on the morning of the 29^ and had all 
the chiefs of the Wyandots that was about home called together, and 
read and explained Gnl Hulls address to them, To which I added 
that there would be a party of men through their village in a short 
time on their way to Lower Sandusky to g[u]ard the public Stores, 
and advised them not to be alarmed but to attend to their ordinary 
callings, and they would be [protected] by the white people, So long 
as th[e]y remained peaceable, assuring them that it was not the dis- 
position of our governm[en]t ever to go to war with any nation 
of People that did not first intrude upon us. 

They after consulting for a short tfi]me answered that they was 
thankfull to me for the trouble I had taken to inform them of the 
the intention of their father (Gnl Hull,) and assured me that it was 
their full determiuat[io]n to strictly adher[e] to the treaty of Green- 
ville. They also stated that they had been much alarmed at the 
movements of the white people, in Collecting an army on their 
borders, also that they was at a loss to know, what was the causfe] 
of the white people leaving their homes on the frontier and assemb- 



430 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

ling together to build block houses;. They also enquired with 
apparent anxiety when the men would be through that place on 
their way to lower Sandusky, alledging as the caus[e] of their 
inquiry, that they wished to know, when they would be along So 
that their Squaws and children might not be alarmed. I observed in 
answ[e]r to which that the white people on the frontier had been 
alarmed in consequence of Some late murders, having been com- 
mitted near Lower Sandusky, by Some Indians; and that the men 
that was Shortly expected on to lower Sandusky g[u]arding the pub- 
lic Store was going on in consequence of those murders, for the pur- 
pose to protect the settelment [and] inhabitants] there from further 
depredation, and that I could not inform them the particular time, 
but that it would be in the course of a week or two — They appeared 
all well Satisiied, and We took our leave of them, and proceeded on 
to Lower Sandusky and ar[r]ived at Mr Varnums in the evening of 
the Same day and deliv[e]red my dispa[t]ohes to him, in which was 
inclosed a copy of the address as above Stated — On the 30 tb M r Var- 
num Called the Wiandots, and Munsies to councell (The Ottoways 
having previously moved away) he read and had interpreted the 
same ad[d]ress as above stated. The Wyandots appeared pleased and 
expressed a Similar Sentiment, to that of the[i]r nati[o]n at Upper 
Sandusky, (the Munsies retired without giving any Answer, and on 
the Same evening moved of[f] towards Maldon — The Indians have 
appeared to be planting no corn, and the Wyandots talked of moving 
to Upper Sandusky; to be with their principal chief — The Ottowas 
had moved of[f] for Some time and encamped on the River Huron 
opposite Maldon, The Settelm[e]nts at Lower Sandusky appeared to 
be almost intirely Deserted, both by the white People and Indians,, 
31 == We proceeded on to the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the 
lake, through a tremendious Swamp, we ar[r]ived in the evening, at 
the Settelm[e]nt, and found a party of the militia on duty under the 
Command of Lut Bond,: This place was in a Defenceless Situation, 
and intirely exposed to the mercy of the Savages, — on the l 4 June we 
proceeded on to the riv[e]r Raison. I delivered the letter I was 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 4.U 

entrusted with to Colo Anderson, I informed him of the Situati[o]n 
and Strength of the army, and the request of Gnl. Hull that they 
should assist in opening a road, to meet the army, (at this place there 
was a Company of militia on duty under the command of Captain 
Lecroix, They was in a Bad State of defence and Considerably 
alarmed 2 nd I proceeded on to Brownstown but for want of an 
interpreter I could not explain Gnl Hulls address to the Indians at 
that place. I proceeded on to Maguaga, and stop[p]ed at the house 
of George Blue-Jacket son to the old chief of that name, he being an 
english Scholar I Shew him Gnl Hulls address, he appeared to be 
pleased with the contents and treated me with Considerable friendship. 
I then proceeded on to Detroit and ar[r]ived about 5 oclock P. M. I 
delivered my dispatches to M r Atwater the acting Governor, and was 
Treated with a great deal of hospitality by him, and all the officers in 
the U. S. army that was ther[e] at detroit. I remained at Detroit 14 
days during which time I attended Several councells with different 
Nations of the Indians. The Acting Governor on the receipt of Gnl 
Hulls letter, Sent for the different nations near that place to attend 
the councell. They all readily attended but the Ottowas, and Munn- 
ces thofugh] on a second invitation the Ottawas attended, he read 
and explained Gnl. Hulls address to them Some of the Chippawas, 
Ottowas and Pottowattom[ie]s appeared to be Satisfied, — an ottowa 
chief in behalf of those three nations, (of the name of Tontoggas — 
or Dog) Stated in his Speech that their fathers at the treaty of Green- 
ville had agreed to bury the hatchet that they had Drove it into the 
ground so deep that it was never to rise up again, and at the Same 
treaty they had agreed, to bind their arms together by a Silver chain 
of friendship that was never to be broke, and he then declared in 
behalf of the Chippawa[s] Ottawa[s] and Pottowattom[ie]s that that 
chain Should never be broken even if a tree should fall across it, — 
he then produced a speech that had been deliv[e]red to him by 
M r Jefferson at the City of Washington, — stating that be had 
engaged with the[i]r great father ever to remain in peace and friend- 
ship with him — be then apologised for their leavi[n]g their towns 



432 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

and neglecting to plant corn, alleging that they came to the river 
huron, to be nigh their father So that they could be Supplied with 
Such things as they wanted, stating that they would return to their 
town again in the fall — There was a Chippawa chief by the name 
(Mocconsf?] or little Bare) attended in great stile, three different 
days to deliver a speech in behalf of his nation (as he said) he was 
waited on each day by the Acting Governor, But he finally retired 
without Saying anything, or giving any explanation] of his con- 
duct — 

Walk in-the water, Adam Brown and Several other chiefs of the 
Wiandots from Brownstown and Maguawga, also attended a councell 
Walk in-the water prodused a writ[t]en speech, in which he charged 
the americans of improper enterferences, in attempting to prevent, 
their young men from crossing to Maldon, and with the Indians the 
last fall on the Wabash, stating that the trouble the white people 
had met with on the wabash they had brought upon themselves, that 
it was the fault of the white people and not the Indians and with 
respect to crossing Detroit River — he Stated that they was their own 
masters and would go where they pleased, hidependent of the ameri- 
cans, — and many other expressions of a similar nature. 

M r Atwat[e]r then asked him if his speech contained the senti- 
ments of his nation generally about Brownstown and maguawga, he 
Walk in-the water answered that it did, he then stated to him the 
inconsistency of his conduct that he had came to him in the spring 
and asked liberty for two of his young men to go to a friendly coun- 
cell on the wawbash and requ[e]sted Some assistance, that he had 
granted the liberty & wrote to the agent at fort Wayne to furnish 
them with a eanofe]. And that when they ar[r]ived at Fort Wayne 
the agent assertained that they had been send with a message from 
the British ag[e]nt (Colo Elliot) to the Indians on the Wabash, and 
that in consequen[ce] of which, the agent at Fort Wayne had refused 
to furnish them with a cauo[e] and had wrote to him on the subject 
(which letter he read) That he had promised to inform him, when the 
young men returned, and the result of the[i]r councell. And that 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 433 

they had returned, and had gone to the British at Maldon. This 
kind of conduct said Mr Atwater is unsufferable We cannot be 
deceived. If you respect your British fathe[r] Elliot better than me, 
why do you not go to him, you come to me and profess to be 
my friend, you th[e]n go to the British and profess to be their 
friends, you Cannot be both our friends, — If the Americans and 
British Differ, what is that to you; you have nothing to do with our 
quarrels, you live amonng us, and if you were disposed to live in 
peace with us, you would not interfere in our disputes, but attend to 
your own business, to plant your corn and take care of your women 
and children &c 

Wa[l]k-in the water appeared Considerably affected at the reproof 
of M r Atwater — And addressed him as follows, Father altho[ugh] 
you have reproved me for what I have Said, there is one thing that 
I will inform you, off — that is — I have been informed that Several 
of the Shawanees, that live on the Miami and Scioto, have engaged 
as Spies for the army that is Coming on here, and that when I heard 
it I Sent Several of my young men on to keep before them — The 
Councell then broke up without his giving any Explanation of his 
conduct apparently not well Satisfied — 

For what purpose their young men was Sent to keep before our 
Spies, I could then only infer one of two things, that was I Supposed 
them either Sent, to waylay our Spi[e]s for the purpose of cut[t]ing 
them of[f], or to have frequent communication with them, to ascer- 
tain the Situation of our army, (Time has d[i]s[s]olved the mistery, at 
the time of this Councell, at Detroit there was no indians had joined 
our army as Spies. It appears obvious that there was an agreement 
between the British and those Indians and that they had been sent 
by the British British to Spi[e] for our army, and that their yo[u]ng 
[men] that Walk in the water had Sent to keep before them was Sent 
for the purpose, of receiving from these spies Such information, 
relative to the army as they wished. This opinion is proven by two 
Circumstances, one is that Several of thos[e] Indians that Spied for 
our Army joined the British as Soon as they ar[r]rived at Detroit, 



434 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

the other is that I was informed about the time I left detroit to meet 

the army, — by a frenchman (who Said he had got his information 

from an Indian) Where our army was a few days before, and 

Described the particular order of march, which on meeting the army 

I found to be correct — 

on the 12th Jun[e] Previo[u]s to my leav[i]ng detro[i]t I rec[eive]d 

by Capt Welch of Dellawa[re] a lett[e]r from Gnl Hull of which the 

following is an exact Copy 

Stanton i^ Jun[e] 1812 

Sir 

Sinfee] you left this I have changed the routfe] — The army will 

proceed by Urbanna and strike the Miami at the foot of the rapid[s] 

It will therefore be improp[e]r for you to return by the Auglaize 

as you will not meet the army on that rout[e] 

I am very respectfully 

Your most obed[i]ent 

servant 
Gexeeal Lucas . • TT 

signed — — WM Hull 

on the 14 th of June in compa[n]y with Capt Welch and two gentle- 
men from Detroit I des[ce]nded the Detroit Riv[e]r, to within a short 
distance of fort Mald[e]n So that with a glass I viewed the Situation 
of the garrison, at this tim[e] there was but 100 British troops in the 
garrison, but while I was in sigh[t] the queen Sharlet ar[r]ived with 
Gnl Brock aboard and a reinforcement of 100 troops. The garrison 
was greatly out of Repa[i]r the back and lowe[r] [?] walls appeared to 
be partly down; — my intenti[o]n was to land and take a particular 
view of the garrison but was advised not, by the gentlem[e]n with 
me, as the British had been inform[e]d of my being at detroit, — they 
apprehended that I would be Suspected if I landed, — I returned on 
the Same evening to detroit, — 

While at Detroit I had made particular inquiry into the the local 
situation of the Territory of Michigan, and upper Canada, I found 
the inhabitants of Michigan to be principally a set of ignorant French 
Canadians, attached to no particular Political principal, apparently 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 435 

more of the Disposition of Indians than white people, And that there 
was a Considerable Spirit of disaffection among them, That two of 
their capt[ai]n[s] had been arrested and Broke [?] for advising the 
men to cross to Canada and not to Suffer themselves to be Drafted, 
and that there had been a considerable mut[i]ny among them that 
had been called out, upon the whole I found that no certain cal- 
culation could be made upon the militia of Michigan with respect 
to defencfe], — I Saw that Detroit lay intirely at the mercy of the 
British and Indians, in case they should unite against it and I had 
every reason to bel[i]eve from the general movements of the indians 
in that quarter (notwithstanding their professed friendship) that they 
was intirely under the influence of the British, and was only waiting 
their signal to strike the Blow unless they Should be restrained by 
fear, at the news of our approaching army. I was fearfull that in 
the event of a Declaration of war previous to the ar[r]ival of our 
army at detroit which I thought probable that that post would be 
immediately attacked by the British and Indians. I therefore on the 
15 th proposed to the Acting Governor, and the off[i]cers at Detroit, 
to Invite the principal chiefs of the Several nations of Indians, about 
that place, to accompany me to the army, I thought if I could get 
them with me that it might answer the good purpose first that it 
would Secure Detroit from an attack by the Indians while their 
ch[i]efs were absent, Second that it would take the chiefs out of the 
way of British influence (and it was generally expected that the army 
would be attacked before it ar[r]ived at Detroit, and Considering its 
Safe ar[r]ival of importauc[e], I thought in the third plac[e] that the 
chiefs being with the army, would Considerably lessen the force of 
our en[e]my in case we Should be attacked, as those of their nation 
would not be likely to attack an army, while their chiefs was in their 
power — 

In this proposition I was joined by a numb[e]r and M r Knaggs 
the interpreter, gave it as his opinion that the ch[i]efs could be 
easily influenced to accompany me, in case he would go with them. 
M r Atwater the acting gov promised to give me an answer on 



436 IOWA JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND POLITICS 

the Subject, the next day, I accordingly waited on him on the 16th, 
he then informed me that he was convinced of the utility of my 
proposition but that, it was out of his power at that time to send the 
chiefs with me to the army, as they could not go without the inter- 
preter (Mr Knaggs) accompanying them, and under the th[e]n exist- 
ing circumstances, he could not be spared from Detroit. I readily 
acquies[c]ed, took my leave of him and proceeded on to meet the 
ar[m]y, — as I crossed the river Huron I saw 15 cano[e]s loaded with 
Ottawa Indians in compa[n]y with their chief (Tontoggas — or Dog) 
on their way to Maid on (this was the chief that had at a previ[o]us 
councell professed Such friendship) — I ar[r]ived at the river Raison 
on the evening of the 16* found the Situation of the place much as 
I had left it on my way to Detroit, but Considerable exertion using, 
in opening a road for the ar[m]y, oh the morning of the 18* in com- 
pa[n]y with M r Denny Capt Welch and Mr Tho? Knaggs (Brother to 
the interpreter at Detroit) I started to meet the army — (at this time 
I was informed by M r Godfray who passed Maiden the day before 
that Genl Brock had returned down the lake on the 16"»,) and met 
on our way between the River Raisin and the foot of the rapids a 
numb[e]r of Indians moving from Solomons Town on Stony creek 
and Round heads town on Scioto with about 40 Horses loaded with 
packs Squaws and children, The men tell us that they was a moving 
to Detroit, (They settled at Browusto[w]n and afterwards crossed to 
Maldon) we ar[r]ived in the afternoon at the foot of the rapids, — The 
company of men that was doing duty as I passed out had been dis- 
missed by Some means, the particular causfe] of which I was not 
informed — we was here informed that there was a war party of Pot- 
towattom[ie]s out in the quarter we was a going — and requested to 
be on our g[u]ard here we laid in provisi[o]n to last us through the 
wilderness, and proceeded on the next morning 19' and struck our 
course through the black Swamps, and ar[r]ived at Round heads 
town on the Scioto in the afternoon of the 21? we we found the 
town intirely evacuated, and the houses locked up, we proceeded on 
the Same evening to Solomons town on Stony creek where we struck 



THE ROBERT LUCAS JOURNAL 437 

the road the army had passed on, (from the foot of the rapids to 
Solomons Town we Saw nobody but was surrounded one night by 
Indians, we heard them yell in the woods, and Saw their trail next 
morning, we used precaut[io]n and left our fires in the night, which 
they proba[b]ly was apprised of, and moved of[f] without interrupt- 
ing us) — the 22 n< * we overtook the army, I reported to the Genl 
deliver[e]d Such dispa[t]ches as I was entrust[e]d with, and made 
a report, to him of all the proceedings during my absence, stated my 
opinion relative to disposition of the Indians and particularly] the 
speech of Walk in the water the Wiandot ch[i]ef at Maguawga to 
which he replied, That he could not think it possible, that Walk in 
the water was such a particular friend of his, That he was Such an 
enli[gh]tened Indian, and So much interested in our causfe] that he 
could not think it possible that he would be opposed to us, — I made 
Sev[e]ral Similar Statements which I found he paid little attention 
to, Tho[ugh] he very politely thanked me for my attention while 
absent, and expressed his intire approbation of my conduct, and 
expressed a wish that I should return with the army, and invited me 
to become a member of his family, — being much fateegued I re- 
quested liberty to retire to Colo M'Arth[u]rs Rgt for a few days, 
during which time I observed that the Gnl was quite imbecile and 
that he paid more attention to parade than action, which did not cor- 
respond with my inclination, I therefore declined accepting the Gnls 
offer to becomfe] a member of his family, and attached myself to the 
Spies, with whom I continued untill the army was Surrend[e]red at 
Detroit, — 

Sir, these are the particulars of my expedition as express to 
detroit, if they will be of any Service to you, toward completing a 
narrative of the Disasterous campaign under Gnl Hull you are wel- 
come to make Such use of them as you may see proper, I also Send 
you, my dayly journal of the campaign, if it will be of any service 
to you, you can take such extracts therefrom as you may be deemed 
necessary — With respect I am your 

very Humble Servant 
M R James Foster — Robert Lucas 



SOME PUBLICATIONS 

Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Edited by 

Reuben Gold Thwaites. Volume XVII. The French Regime 

in Wisconsin — II, 1'727-1'748. Madison: Published by the 

Society. 1906. Pages xix, 54-4. Portraits. 

This is the second volume issued by the Society that is devoted to 

the documentary history of the French regime in Wisconsin. The 

first volume covered the period from 1634 to 1727 and was issued as 

volume xvi of the Collections. 

This volume contains the inner history of the French scheme of 
colonial commercialism in its working form as it existed in the then 
known northwestern country. During this time the French ruled 
absolutely the Wisconsin area and by means of barter exerted their 
influence over the Aborigines of the adjoining country to the south 
and west. The missionary spirit now played a minor part and in its 
place a spirit of greed ran wild. The cry was for furs to supply the 
demands of commerce caused by the needs and caprices of a civilized 
world. The scheme of French government was essentially that of 
paternalism. The effort being to turn the native inhabitants from 
their customary methods in the pursuit of an independent human ex- 
istence to the status of the mere vassals of a superior power and ren- 
dering to it excessive tribute in the balance of trade for the tinsel and 
cheap habiliments of a civilized life. The effects of the system 
whether good or bad depended largely upon the character of the men 
in charge. The system of government was inherently bad, and as 
the ruling spirit was greed and graft, but little good is to be expected. 
In fact the historian relates that two of the Governors-general, the 
Marquis de Beauharnois and the Comte de la Galissoniere — who 
held sway during this period were able and incorruptible and by 
their energies saved the system from inglorious failure. 



THE 



Iowa Journal 

HistoryandPolitics 



JULY 1906 










Published Quarterly by 

THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA 

Iowec City Iowe*. 



Entered December j6 1902 at Iowa City Iowa as second-class matter under Act of Congress of July 16 1894 



EDITOR 
BENJAMIN F. SHAMBAUGH 



Vol IV 



JULY 1906 



No 3 



CONTENTS 



The Robert Lucas Journal 



Some Publications 



John C. Parish 343 



438 



Thwaites— Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (p. 438) . T. J. Fitzpatrick 

Wisconsin in Three Centuries, 1634— rgoj (p. 440) ...... Warren Upham 

Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society (p. 441) . . . , T. J. FITZPATRICK 

Rowland— The Mississippi Territorial Archives {l?g8— 1803), (p. 443) . . F. E. HORACE 

MORCOMBE— History of Crescent Lodge No. 2j, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From its Organization in 1850 to the close of the year 
T 9°5 (P- 444) T. J. Fitzpatrick 

Todd — Early Settlement and Growth of Western Iowa, or Reminiscences (p. 446) T. J. Fitzpatrick 

Americana and Miscellaneous 
Iowana 



Historical Societies 
Notes and Comment 
Contributors 



447 
452 

456 

472 

484 



( Copyright, 1906, By The State Historical Society of Iowa ) 



The Iowa Journal of History and Politics 

Published Quarterly 

at IOWA CITY 

Subscription Price: $2.00 Single Number: 50 Cents 

Address all Communications to THE EDITOR 
State Historical Society Iowa C i ty Iowa 



THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA 

Established by Law in the Year 1S57 
Incorporated: 1867 and 1892 
Located at Iowa City low a 



RALPH P. LOWE 
S. J. KIRKWOOD 
H. LEE 



FORMER PRESIDENTS 
JAMES W. GRIMES First President 

W. PEXN CLARKE WILLIAM G. HAMMOND 



ROBERT HUTCHINSON 
M. J. MORSMAN 



GEORGE G. WRIGHT 
JOSIAH L. PICKARD 



OFFICERS 

PETER A. DEY President 

ISAAC A. LOOS Vice President 

LOVELL SWISHER • • Treasurer 

FRANK E. HORACK SECRETARY 

T. J. FITZPATRICK COLLECTOR 



BOARD OF CURATORS 



Elected by the Society 
M. W. Davis B. F. Shambauch 

Peter A. Dey Isaac A. Loos 
Laenas G. Weld A. E. Swisher 
Geo. W. Ball J. W. Rich 
Euclid Sanders 



Appointed by the Governor 
Harvey Ingham L. W. Parish 
H. W. Byers J. J. McConnell 

Irving B. Richman J. F. Mitchell 
E. W. Stanton Charles E. Shelton 

William Milchrist 



MEMBERSHIP 

Any person may become a member of The State Historical Society of Iowa upon 
election by the Board of Curators and the payment of an entrance fee of $5.00. 

Membership in this Society may be retained after the first year upon the payment of 
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Members of the Society shall be entitled to receive the quarterly and all other publica- 
tions of the Society during the continuance of their membership. 

Any public, school, or college library in the State of Iowa may be enrolled as a library 
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